Travel and Tourism
El Nido still closed to tourists from NCR Plus
April 19, 2021, 5:43 pm
MANILA – The municipality of El Nido in Palawan which is famous for its white-sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and other tourist hotspots has reopened its doors to local tourists, except for those from the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus area. “Those from the NCR Plus bubble are temporarily… Read More
DOT lauds repurposed hotels for coronavirus fight
April 19, 2021, 2:57 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is grateful for the hotel industry’s continued support in repurposing their accommodation establishments (AEs) into isolation and quarantine facilities. As of April 18, there are 21 hotels in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Region 4-A (Calabarzon)… Read More
Israel set to open borders to vaccinated foreign tourists
April 14, 2021, 3:59 pm
MANILA – Israel is opening up its borders to foreign tourists who have been vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) starting next month. The Israel Ministry of Tourism said the initiative will begin on May 23, starting with a limited number of groups that will be increased based… Read More
Pagudpud beach listed among world's 'most beautiful'
April 14, 2021, 3:54 pm
MANILA – Saud Beach in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte was listed among the 25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World by New York-based travel magazine Travel+Leisure. In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) hailed the beach's inclusion, which is the only destination in the Philippines… Read More
New terminal building expands Bohol port’s passenger capacity
April 13, 2021, 7:58 pm
CEBU CITY – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) are set to inaugurate on April 14 the second Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) of the Port of Tagbilaran in the neighboring province of Bohol. The DOTr, in a statement on Tuesday, said the event will… Read More
Food and wine festival slated in Cebu
April 13, 2021, 3:50 pm
CEBU CITY – Cebu’s hospitality players have come together to stage the first-ever Cebu Food and Wine Festival (CFWF) to revive the pandemic-ravaged tourism and culinary industries of the island. Non-profit group Ministry of Wine and Food, created to organize the CFWF, said on Tuesday the event… Read More
PH eyes use of IATA travel pass
April 7, 2021, 2:36 pm
MANILA – The Philippine government is considering the use of the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) travel pass as part of the country's preparations for the resumption of international travel amid the pandemic, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday. “This move is… Read More
Probe underway on alleged 'super spreader' party in Boracay
April 6, 2021, 7:36 pm
MANILA – The local government of Malay has launched an investigation on a party that allegedly caused the recent spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Boracay, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Tuesday. "The DOT commends the Municipal Government of Malay for its swift action… Read More
Hotels, airlines urged to help tourists affected by ECQ
April 6, 2021, 4:36 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday asked all hotels, travel agencies, and airlines to assist tourists who made prior travel arrangements with them but were affected by the extension of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in National Capital Region Plus (NCR Plus) areas. The… Read More
PH, DOT nominated at 2021 World Travel Awards Asia Edition
March 31, 2021, 3:12 pm
MANILA – The Philippines and the Department of Tourism (DOT) secure positions as nominees to the 2021 World Travel Awards (WTA), one of the most prestigious and comprehensive global recognition bodies that aims to “acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the… Read More
DOT seeks inclusion of tour guides, service providers in A4 list
March 30, 2021, 1:27 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for the inclusion of tour guides, operators, and other accredited workers and service providers in the country's A4 vaccine priority group. The DOT said it requested National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar… Read More
Staycation in 'NCR Plus' suspended
March 28, 2021, 2:33 pm
MANILA – Staycations are temporarily suspended in Metro Manila and nearby provinces following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Saturday night. The agency said only accredited accommodation establishments that serve as quarantine facilities… Read More
Medical exemptions are for emergencies, DOT on Balesin program
March 23, 2021, 9:11 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday warned against using the travel exceptions to circumvent the two-week National Capital Region (NCR) Plus restrictions. This came in the wake of a report that the exclusive Balesin Island Club in Polillo, Quezon is offering a way for its guests… Read More
Tourism sector 'yields' to latest quarantine status
March 22, 2021, 12:18 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Monday said it would “yield” to public health concerns amid the recent placing of the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under general community quarantine (GCQ) status due to rising coronavirus… Read More
Rizal, Paco parks limit visiting hours
March 19, 2021, 6:12 pm
MANILA – Rizal Park and Paco Park are limiting visiting hours from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. starting March 19, the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) announced Friday. The move is to help the government curb the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Metro Manila. Both parks… Read More
Largest dive expo in PH launched
March 19, 2021, 2:27 pm
MANILA – The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday launched the country's largest dive expo in time for the gradual activation of dive tourism in various Philippine destinations and abroad. The virtual edition of the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) this year aims to raise awareness… Read More
Test before travel still in place in most PH destinations
March 10, 2021, 7:59 pm
MANILA – Some destinations that reopened still impose a test-before-travel policy, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat clarified Wednesday. Among these are Boracay, Bohol, Ilocos Sur, El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa, and San Vicente in Palawan, which will open on March 15. Romulo-Puyat… Read More
Tourism corridor eyed to link Calabarzon destinations
March 10, 2021, 4:04 pm
MANILA – A tourism initiative called the Green Corridor will soon link several destinations in Region-4A (Calabarzon) under the new normal, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday. In a press conference from Rizal province, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the department… Read More
Dev't project to help Coron's sustainable tourism bounce back
March 6, 2021, 5:19 pm
CORON, Palawan – The Department of Tourism (DOT) expresses support for Coron’s sustainable tourism development to draw more visitors and hasten tourism recovery. “Giving our recovery plans for Coron a major boost is the Sustainable Tourism Development Project or STDP, which will be launched… Read More
DOT aims to enhance resiliency of PH destinations
March 6, 2021, 12:47 pm
MANILA - The Department of Tourism (DOT) endeavors to ensure the tourism resiliency of the country’s prime destination, El Nido, Palawan, through the full implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Development Project (STDP) this year. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat made the statement… Read More
