MOBILE ACCREDITATION. Owners of tourism-related businesses join the DOT mobile accreditation on March 11, 2022 at the Vigan conservation complex. A DOT-accredited tourism facility ensures the safety, comfort, and convenience of tourists. (Contributed photo)
LAOAG CITY – At least 82 tourism stakeholders composed of hotels, transient houses, and restaurants in the cities of Vigan and Candon in Ilocos Sur province are now fully-accredited under the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) international health and safety standards.
Evangeline Dadat, chief tourism operations officer of the DOT-Region I, said on Friday they have activated the mobile accreditation facility at the Vigan conservation complex on March 11 to provide easier access to small tourism-related establishments to get DOT accreditation.
“For the safety of tourists and improvement of services, we are confident that these tourism establishments will deliver after they have passed the accreditation process,” Dadat said.
The DOT accreditation is a certificate issued by the department recognizing the holder as having complied with its minimum standards in the operation of the establishment concerned, which shall ensure the safety, comfort, and convenience of the tourists.
Any establishment that serves tourists such as hotels, resorts, apartment hotels, pension houses, motorist hotel/motel, homestay, eco-lodge, as well as travel and tour services like transport, tour guides, among others, are due for DOT accreditation stamp.
To ease the process of doing business, Dadat said mobile accreditation is being conducted in the region to reach out to more tourism-related businesses and improve their quality of service and facilities for tourism to flourish, especially in this time of the pandemic.
"Such an honor to be part of this program to improve our services," Remedios Areño, a tourism business owner from Candon City, Ilocos Sur, said.
Since the deployment of the mobile accreditation, the DOT regional office recorded an increase of 44 percent in accredited tourism facilities like small hotels, dive shops, and other micro and small accommodation facilities.
In Ilocos Norte, Dadat said more tourism-related businesses have secured the stamp of approval from the tourism agency, assuring tourists of safety and quality of service and products.
Aside from mobile accreditation, the DOT Region 1 is also conducting orientation seminars among hotel owners and restaurants amid the expected influx of tourists now that the government has eased travel protocols. (PNA)
