Resumption of tourism activities in the city is still hanging in the balance even if the city would be ordered to shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) as part of the protocols in curving the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Lisod pa kaayo sa pagka-karon because ang gina-target baya nato nga tourism is MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions),” the mayor said as the implementation of the general community quarantine in the city is set to end on June 15.
She said that even when MGCQ is implemented, tourism establishments will still remain close.
“Although dunay turismo nga mobakasyon lang, mosuroy. Dili pud mag-entail nga mo-attend og mass gathering. Pero sa pagka-karon, bawal pa man ang leisure travel sa airplane, she added.
She urged the public to avoid travelling to tourist destinations this year because of fear that they might get afflicted by the virus.
Last year, the city won the bidding for the holding of the MICE Convention, an annual gathering of tourism stakeholders that could have been used as a platform to promote the city and the entire region as a tourist destination.
The event has since been scrapped because of the threat of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the mayor reminded the public that the food and medicine pass cannot still be used on Sundays even as the city is bracing for a new set of protocols come next week.
Dili pud ta pwede mogamit og FM pass on Sundays. Ang atong mga palengke, sirado pud sila on Sundays,” the mayor said even as she reiterated that the use of these passes continues to be on number coding as the city is still waiting for a new directive from the Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
