TOURISM RECOVERY. Department of Tourism (DOT)-Central Visayas regional head Shalimar Hofer Tamano (right, in white) talks with Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan (center) on the revival plan of the tourism industry in the island destination. Hotels and resorts in the city are expected to reopen next month. (Photo courtesy of Lapu-Lapu City PIO)
LAPU-LAPU CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Visayas is ready to assist the city in reopening its hospitality industry after the months-long hiatus.
Shalimar Hofer Tamano, DOT-7 regional director, said he met with Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan and his wife, Cindi King-Chan, to discuss the agency’s possible intervention in the revival of tourism in one of Cebu’s favorite beach destinations.
King-Chan is the chair of the Lapu-Lapu City Tourism, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (TCHAC).
“I thank the mayor for his invitation with regards to the possibility of opening up slowly its tourism to domestic tourists,” Tamano said in a press statement of the city government’s public information office on Tuesday.
Hotels and resorts here are anticipating to reopen next month once the city further downgrades to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Lapu-Lapu City is the gateway to Central Visayas, being home to the region’s busiest international airport and a number of hotels, resorts and white beaches.
King-Chan leads the city’s tourism recovery plan to revitalize the industry, which has suffered from the widespread lockdowns and travel restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
She has been tasked to implement the plans and programs of the mayor.
“We are truly grateful that Director Tamano and staff came over to express their full support,” she said.
The TCHAC had been inspecting hotels and resorts since August 5 to check their safety and wellness protocols.
Tamano assured the mayor that he and other government agencies are ready to give the support needed to recover the tourism-reliant economy of Lapu-Lapu.
Aside from the DOT, the Department of Trade and Industry and the police are also supporting the city in reopening its tourism industry.
The city’s tourism catering establishments closed during the lockdown and many workers in tourism-related industries lost their jobs due to the crisis.
“We are getting ready to open our tourism industry so we can create jobs again to our locals,” King-Chan said in Cebuano.
Tamano visited the mayor on Monday together with his staff tourism officer Judilyn Quachon and senior tourism operations officer Riza Marie Macaibay. (PNA)
