CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The best help anyone can give to the tourism industry is to travel local, support local, eat local, said an official of the Department of Tourism (DOT)-10 during CORDS-X podcast, November 27 with Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

“We have to patronize our tourism industries. We have so many local products and destinations that we can be proud of,” DOT-10 Regional Director Marie Elaine Salvaña-Unchuan said.

The department is also prioritizing vaccination among tourism workers. In the region, out of 10, 787 target workers in 790 tourism enterprises, 86.95% or 9,174 of them have been vaccinated.

A number of interventions to tourism enterprises have been provided by DOT-10. Unchuan said at the start of the pandemic they have given COVID awareness training, created new normal series online to show preparedness of tourism establishments, implemented safety seals, and conducted social media training.

DOT-10 has also partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

"Naghatag pud ta ug ayuda sa atong tourism workers and continuous program on upscaling the skills of our displaced tourism workers," she said.

(We have given financial assistance to tourism workers and a continuous program on upscaling the skills of our displaced tourism workers)

Unchuan added that they are confident about the opening of the tourism industry.

She further shared that Camiguin was one of the last provinces that opened to the public after almost two years. When Cebu Pacific launched their maiden flight from Manila to Camiguin on November 15, the local government of Camiguin lifted their travel restrictions and instead of requiring RT-PCR tests, they now require vaccination cards from tourists.

With so much content about the Philippines online, Unchuan said their social media team decided to hold a Tiktok contest to raise awareness on local destinations, food and local products and exciting adventures in region 10. 

Using #limitlessadventure, DOT's Tiktok 10.10 challenge started October 10 and will end December 6.

Although the tourism industry is starting to reopen in the region, Unchuan shared they are still encouraging tourists and workers alike to follow health safety protocols because COVID is still around. (JMOR/PIA-10)