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Eager for visitors, the Philippines reopens to international tourists.

The Southeast Asian nation had closed its borders to most visitors for nearly two years.

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By Jason Gutierrez

• Feb. 10, 2022

MANILA — The Philippines reopened to international tourists on Thursday for the first time in almost two years, as it looks to kick-start an economy hit hard by the pandemic and the measures taken to control it.

Tourists from 157 countries that have a no-visa arrangement with the Philippines are now welcome, provided they are fully vaccinated and can show a negative coronavirus test, the government said.

The Philippine tourism secretary, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, said reopening the sector was part of the government’s overall program to revitalize the economy, which has suffered greatly in the health crisis but slightly recovered last year.

“We haven’t had good news for a long time,” she said, adding that she was confident the change would bring back jobs and revenue lost during the pandemic.

Unvaccinated travelers will still need to check into quarantine facilities on arrival, she said, but fully vaccinated Filipino nationals and foreigners would not.

She stressed that nearly all workers in the country’s tourism sector have been vaccinated, and that her department was also helping tourism workers get booster shots.

All hotels in the Philippines have also gone through and completed safety audits, she said.

The Philippines, with a population of 110 million, has recorded an average of about 6,500 new cases a day over the past week, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. That represents a sharp drop from less than a month ago, when the country was recording more than 30,000 cases a day.

The “careful reopening of the economy” came amid strong lobbying from Ms. Romulo-Puyat, who noted that tourism-related industries suffered tremendously from the health-induced slowdown. The Philippines’ economy grew 5.6 percent last year, after a harsh recession in 2020.

The reopening was originally set for December but was delayed when the highly transmissible Omicron variant spread around the world.

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To Build Up Tourism, Philippines Loosens Pandemic Restrictions For Filipinos

Ashley Westerman

The tourism industry in the Philippines lost some $8 billion in 2020 because of the pandemic. Filipinos are being encouraged to travel domestically to try to restart a crucial sector of the economy.

NOEL KING, HOST:

Millions of people in the Philippines work in tourism, and it's a key part of that country's economy. But the pandemic obliterated the industry. In an attempt to revive it, the government is loosening restrictions and pushing Filipinos to travel domestically. Here's Ashley Westerman from Manila.

(SOUNDBITE OF KNOCKING)

KYRA CABAERO: Room check.

(SOUNDBITE OF KEYCARD BEEPING, DOOR OPENING)

ASHLEY WESTERMAN, BYLINE: At the Joy Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila in Pasig, an upscale part of Manila, marketing director Kyra Cabaero shows me around one of the hotel's standard executive rooms.

CABAERO: We have a fully equipped kitchen already in the studio room. It comes with either a king size bed or two twin beds.

WESTERMAN: Crisp white sheets, a plush white couch, white tile floor - the room is pristine.

CABAERO: As you can see, it's actually quite bigger than regular hotel rooms.

WESTERMAN: There's also something a bit different about this room.

CABAERO: We now offer a QR code. So guests can just scan this, and this will connect them with everything about the hotel. So that's the hotel directory, the room service menu.

WESTERMAN: This is just one of the many COVID protocols the hotel has put in place in order for it to become one of a handful in the metro Manila area certified for staycation bookings.

CABAERO: We have already been inspected and audited and are following the standards for safety and health for DOT.

WESTERMAN: That's the Department of Tourism. Cabaero says the hotel has been impacted financially by COVID, so they jumped at the chance when it arose in May for visitors from within the national capital region bubble to book hotel rooms like these to get away while not getting too far away.

This staycation scheme is just one idea the Philippine government has put forth in an effort to restart the country's pandemic-shattered tourism industry. Pre-COVID, the industry made up more than 12% of the country's overall GDP. A large majority of that was domestic travel. In an email statement to NPR, the Department of Tourism says domestic travel will help restart the battered sector. But while the department says it's doing all it can for a safe reopening, many experts are not on board, even with staycations.

JOSHUA SAN PEDRO: There is still some relative risk, especially if we're talking about staycations by people who aren't from the same household.

WESTERMAN: That's Joshua San Pedro, a primary care provider in Manila. Even though the Philippines' case numbers have gone down after a huge spike in April and May, San Pedro says traveling outside of the home is still too risky. Earlier this month, the Philippines also started some domestic travel between provinces, most notably to some beach destinations like Boracay and Palawan. San Pedro says that adds even more risk.

SAN PEDRO: There's still a lot of cases in the provinces. Until maybe testing is better - and then second is really the vaccine rollout.

WESTERMAN: Which has been slow in the Philippines, with just about 2% of the population fully vaccinated to date. E.J. Fletchitero of Marikina City is not vaccinated and says he will not travel right now.

When do you think you will eventually travel?

E J FLETCHITERO: Maybe if we have all get the vaccines.

WESTERMAN: And not yet getting the jab isn't the only thing keeping him home. The 31-year-old cruise ship worker has also not worked in over a year.

FLETCHITERO: (Speaking Tagalog).

WESTERMAN: He says money's a bit tight right now to pay for a ticket or a hotel room.

Jerome Dagpulo, a food delivery driver, shares the sentiment.

JEROME DAGPULO: (Speaking Tagalog).

WESTERMAN: He says he's currently making about 700 pesos per day, the equivalent of $14 American, which he says is barely enough to just live on.

For NPR News, I'm Ashley Westerman in Manila.

(SOUNDBITE OF PORTICO QUARTET'S "RUINS")

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NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Philippines to reopen 'soon' to vaccinated foreign tourists

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The Philippines sets ambitious 2024 tourism target after remarkable rebound in 2023

In a new move to revitalize its tourism sector, the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) has set an ambitious target of 7.7 million international visitors for the year 2024. The goal is just shy of its pre-pandemic count of 8.2 million. Tourism Secretary, Christina Frasco, expressed the unwavering commitment to the transformation of Philippine tourism, guided by the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028.

The announcement comes after a successful 2023, where the country welcomed 5,450,557 international visitors, surpassing the initial target of 4.8 million set by DOT. 91.80% of these visitors were foreigners, while 447,082 were overseas Filipinos returning to their homeland.

Notably, the Philippines experienced an economic boost, generating an estimated 482.54 billion PHP in international tourism revenue in 2023. The number is more than doubling the income recorded in 2022.

Frasco pointed out that the impressive number of visitors in 2023 indicate a faster-than-expected recovery of the tourism industry, with a 124.87% increase compared to 2022.

Local tour operators have reported a 30% increase in bookings to popular destinations such as: Boracay, Siargao, Coron, Davao and Cebu. This indicating a strong rebound in domestic tourism. The increase is attributed to the effectiveness of aggressive promotional campaigns to re-establish the Philippines as a premier travel destination.

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About Miabell Mallikka

Miabell Mallikka is a journalist working with ScandAsia at the headquarters in Bangkok.

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How Chinese visitors could boost Philippine tourism in pandemic’s wake

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

TOURISM DEAL. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Culture and Tourism Minister Hu Heping sign a deal on bilateral tourism cooperation on January 4, 2023.

Department of Tourism

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine tourism industry still has a long way to go before hitting pre-pandemic levels – but the return of Chinese visitors in the hundreds of thousands may just help us get there faster.

Countries all over the world are already welcoming Chinese visitors back with open arms. Hotels in Singapore have prepared packages for Chinese visitors who will be there to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Meanwhile, a Japanese tour bus firm has similarly readied the revival of its Chinese-language tour.

The Philippines has big plans, too. The Department of Tourism (DOT) warmed up to the Chinese market during the three-day state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to China. The DOT and its counterpart China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism signed an implementation program on tourism cooperation between China and the Philippines. The deal promotes “bilateral tourism cooperation” between the two countries in an effort to revive an industry waylaid by the pandemic.

Even before the deal, Philippine tourism was already picking up. In a press release on January 2, the DOT said that it logged 2.65 million international visitor arrivals in 2022, well above the department’s target. That, of course, also meant a boost in tourism revenue. That year, travelers brought in P208.96 billion – a more than 2,000% jump from the same period in 2021.

But remember, the pandemic was still very much ravaging the world in 2021, so using figures in that year as a benchmark may paint a deceptively rosy picture. See in this line graph just how far we’ve fallen from our pre-pandemic tourism levels.

To be clear, it was not just Philippine tourism that took a beating during the pandemic. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism suffered its worst crisis in history at the peak of COVID-19 in 2020, with international arrivals dropping by 74% . Since then, global tourism has speedily recovered up to 65% of its pre-pandemic levels.

However, the number of arrivals in Asia and the Pacific has lagged, according to UNWTO. This is where the crucial role of China comes in. China, among the biggest tourist markets for countries in the region, kept its borders mostly shuttered.

But that was all set to change when in late 2022, China made a surprise U-turn on its strict zero-COVID policy. Already, Asian countries are preparing for an influx of Chinese tourists. Among them is the Philippines, which has consistently counted China among its top 3 tourist markets. (READ: Asia’s tourist hotspots prepare for boom as China relaxes COVID-19 rules )

Before understanding why international arrivals from China are so integral to our tourism industry, we first need to take a deeper look at the people who came to the country in 2022.

Philippine tourism in 2022

Since the Philippines reopened its borders to travelers on February 15, 2022, it welcomed visitors from nearly every country. Here’s a map visualizing all Philippine-bound international arrivals in 2022, with data coming from the DOT’s monitoring of arrivals from February to December 2022.

In the map below, international arrivals are grouped by nationality, with their respective origin region shaded to represent the number of visitors coming from their area. Hover over the map to see specific numbers.

Returning overseas Filipinos comprised the majority of international arrivals in 2022, with 628,445 making the journey home. The rest of the 2.02 million arrivals consisted of foreign tourists, with American and South Korean visitors accounting for almost half of all tourist arrivals. 

Here’s the breakdown of the country’s top 10 tourist markets:

• United States – 505,089
• South Korea – 428,014 
• Australia – 137,974 
• Canada – 121,413
• United Kingdom – 101,034 
• Japan – 99,557
• Singapore – 53,448 
• India – 51,542
• Malaysia – 46,805
• China – 39,627

Comparing the top 10 tourist markets in 2022 to pre-pandemic years, what immediately sticks out is the massive drop in international arrivals from China. China, along with the US and South Korea, has traditionally been among the top three foreign tourist markets in the Philippines. 

And while tourists from the US and South Korea have already started trickling back into the country, the number of international arrivals from China has been limited, dropping to 10th place.

So what happened to Chinese tourists?

Take a look at how the country's top tourist markets have changed from 2010 to 2022, and keep an eye on how international arrivals from China have steadily grown – only to crash following the pandemic.

Recovery has been slow in large part due to President Xi Jinping's strict zero-COVID policy, which has restricted the movement of people and production in factories. For instance, in the first half of 2022, China began hard lockdowns in Shanghai.

Bankers and traders in the bustling city's financial districts slept in offices and lived off instant noodles to keep the country's financial markets turning. Snap lockdowns of buildings, routine mass PCR testing, and mandatory quarantines kept Chinese citizens on their toes for most of the year.

This extended to travel restrictions outside the country as well. China required returning travelers to have seven days of centralized quarantine along with three days of self-isolation. Travelers also had to go through a combination of PCR and antigen tests, on top of also securing a "health code" from the local embassy. This has all worked to discourage Chinese citizens from traveling at all, except for the most pressing of business – never mind for mere sightseeing.

Recently, this has begun to change as President Xi committed to a full reopening of his country’s borders. Quarantine requirements for returning travelers were removed while China also resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents. (READ: China reopens borders in final farewell to zero-COVID )

What can we expect?

The Philippines is banking on cash-rich Chinese visitors to bolster its tourism industry. And it seems that in the case of Boracay – with its glittering sand – China is eager to oblige. The Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xillian already met with Aklan officials and business groups on January 9, just as Boracay prepares to welcome back its biggest tourist market.

“We talked about the possibility of the return of Chinese tourists soon. We are happy about his visit,” Malay Mayor Floribar Bautista said in a phone interview with Rappler. 

Pre-pandemic, Chinese tourists had dominated arrivals in Boracay. Nearly 150,000 Chinese visitors came to the island in 2018, with the number of tourists growing by only 46% the following year.

“There used to be 20-plus direct flights from China per week and almost 400,000 tourists yearly to Boracay before the pandemic. China is opening up again for international travel, and anticipates more Chinese outbound tourists later this year,” said the ambassador.

Chinese ambassador’s Boracay visit hints at return of biggest tourist market

The DOT has also laid the groundwork for a wider revival of warm tourism ties with the Implementation Program signed during the President's recent state visit.

“This implementation program with China will generate massive employment opportunities and investments across all sectors of tourism throughout the Philippines," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement.

The deal broadly gives assurances that the two countries will mutually support development of their hotels, resorts, cruise, port, tourism products, and competency standards. Joint workshops and training sessions for cruise and port development, lake development, tourism security measures, tourism market and industry research are also in the works.

"Our governments will work together on increasing tourist arrivals, resuming and adding direct flights to key and emerging destinations, joint promotional activities, and inviting tourism investments in infrastructure, among others,” Frasco emphasized.

Both countries are also expected to support the other's travel fairs and tourism expeditions, with a renewed awareness about environmental protection and sustainable development.

“Among the salient points of this Implementation Program is to advocate the best practices and knowledge in sustainable tourism which includes the promotion of eco-friendly products and services," the tourism chief said, adding that both governments would also encourage investments in tourism infrastructure.

What about COVID-19?

However, China's recent COVID-19 surge threatens to hurt tourism before it even begins its recovery. Japan, South Korea, the US, and Canada have all increased restrictions on arrivals from China, such as requiring pre-departure or arrival COVID-19 tests and limiting flights.

For many tourist hot spots, the choice has become a delicate balancing act between economic recovery and pandemic safety. Chinese tourists represented the world’s largest outbound travel market in 2019. In the same year, Chinese tourists contributed $2.33 billion of the $9.31 billion in Philippine tourism revenue. Setting stricter quarantine measures could mean losing out on billions in revenue, should tourists be dismayed.

That in mind, countries have made varied adjustments to their health protocols. For instance, Thailand has been quick to remove vaccination requirements for inbound travelers ahead of an expected rush of Chinese tourists. Australia and Germany have also said they would not impose additional requirements for Chinese travel. The US, on the other hand, has required COVID-19 tests on travelers from China.

Currently, travelers arriving in the Philippines are only required to present a negative COVID-19 test if they are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. Despite reporting on January 4 that eight unvaccinated Filipinos from China tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health does not yet see the need to tighten travel restrictions on arrivals from China.

Why PH not keen on tightening borders for China travelers

Nevertheless, Frasco was optimistic that the reopening of the country and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions would allow the tourism industry to further recover in 2023. She added that the DOT is aiming for 4.8 million international arrivals as its baseline target for 2023.

“In the recent past, we have overcome a global pandemic, survived various calamities, and thrived throughout a host of many other challenges, yet, the Philippine tourism industry has managed to exceed expectations and our tourism partners and frontliners continue to offer the best of Filipino grace and hospitality to the world,” said the tourism chief in a New Year’s Eve message. – Rappler.com

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Tourism’s road to recovery

Revenge travel is in full swing three years after COVID-19 struck the Philippines, a momentum that the Department of Tourism (DOT) intends to maintain by dismantling the last of the health and safety protocols imposed on tourism establishments. Earlier this week, DOT issued Memorandum Circular 2023-0002 that lifted more pandemic era regulations to spur the rapid recovery of the critical tourism sector that was crippled by the extended lockdowns and stringent movement restrictions of previous years. Tourism establishments, for one, no longer need to install plastic or acrylic barriers and dividers in designated areas, nor are they required to display signs or visual cues on mandatory protocols. Guests, too, are no longer expected to wear face masks, nor are they required to present proof of full vaccination.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said doing away with these increasingly obsolete requirements “sends the important message that, under the Marcos Jr. administration, our country is open for tourism, and that we are keeping up with global practices on tourism operations that have already opened up worldwide.” Indeed, DOT has made a series of calibrated moves to fully reopen the battered tourism sector, one of President Marcos Jr.’s stated priorities during his first State of the Nation Address.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the tourism sector contributed as much as P1 trillion to the economy in 2021, 9.2 percent more than its P917.2 billion earnings in 2020, when mobility restrictions were at their most stringent. The tourism industry, which covers hotels, food and beverage outlets, travel agencies, tour operators, retail establishments, tour guides, recreation, and transportation also employed 4.9 million in 2021, accounting for roughly 11 percent of total employment in the country. This meant that at least one in every 10 employed Filipinos was in the tourism sector. But the current figures have a long way to go to match DOT’s output in 2019, when it contributed P2.5 trillion to the economy and employed 5.7 million. This explains the rapid loosening of travel restrictions, as the Marcos Jr. administration struggles to attract at least 8.3 million tourists, the number of tourist arrivals in 2019 before the global health emergency hit the country.

To recall, Mr. Marcos signed in October last year Executive Order No. 7 that made the wearing of face masks voluntary throughout the country, except in critical areas such as in health care facilities and all types of public transport, to better compete for tourists against other countries that had long lifted their mask mandates. Since then, other strict requirements such as prior testing and mandatory quarantine had been removed, as was the issuance of safety seal and safe travels stamp to establishments complying with COVID-19 protocols.

But while packed hotels, restaurants, and incoming flights clearly indicate that the sector is fast regaining its pre-COVID vigor, Filipinos should not be lulled into thinking that the pandemic is over. On the contrary, COVID-19 remains a threat, as the Department of Health (DOH) keeps stressing. Reasonable caution should still be exercised lest new and more transmissible strains cause infection numbers to again spin out of control, and justify the reinstatement of painful protocols. Basic and easy-to-follow health and sanitation rules should remain in place to protect ourselves and others from contracting the virus that causes COVID-19 as well as other diseases. These include the thorough washing of hands, wearing a face mask when warranted, and voluntarily isolating one’s self or changing travel plans when symptoms of illness appear. The withholding of information about a traveler’s health status should not be tolerated.

One heartening note amid these precautions is the DOH’s pronouncement that 73.8 million Filipinos or 94.6 percent of the target population are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which helps keep the country’s positivity rate well below the 5 percent deemed manageable by the World Health Organization.

Now that the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, the tourism sector should tackle the previous and recurring problems faced by domestic and international tourists. These include peace and security, which was dampened with the recent killing of a New Zealand tourist by robbers in Makati, and the bad image of our airports due to long queues and incidents of theft by airport personnel themselves. Improving tourism infrastructure to give travelers faster and easier access to our islands must also be given priority by the government.

Putting our house in order and remaining vigilant about the lingering threats of COVID-19 will inspire more confidence among travelers about coming into the country, thus giving the Philippines the best of both worlds: A tourism sector that is robust and fast recovering from the ravages of the pandemic, and a COVID-19 situation kept firmly under control.

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MANILA, Philippines — Two of the most popular Philippine tourist destinations, including the Boracay beach, have partially reopened with only a fraction of their usual crowds showing up given continuing coronavirus restrictions.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Friday that 35 local tourists, including seven from Manila, came on the first day of the reopening of Boracay, a central island famous for its powdery white sands, azure waters and stunning sunsets. Only local tourists from regions with low-level quarantine designations could go, subject to safeguards, including tests showing a visitor is coronavirus-free.

The mountain city of Baguio, regarded as a summer hideaway for its pine trees, cool breeze and picturesque upland views, has been reopened to tourists only from its northern region, she told ABS-CBN News.

Despite the urgent need to revive the tourism industry, it’s being done “very slowly, cautiously,” she said, adding mayors and governors would have to approve the reopening of tourism spots. “We really have to be careful,” she said.

Like in most countries, the pandemic has devastated the tourism industry in the Philippines, which now has the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia at more than 314,000, with 5,504 deaths.

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Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

LOS ANGELES -- California’s plan to safely reopen its economy will begin to require counties to bring down coronavirus infection rates in disadvantaged communities that have been harder hit by the pandemic.

The complex new rules announced late Wednesday set in place an “equity metric.”

It will force larger counties to control the spread of COVID-19 in areas where Black, Latino and Pacific Islander groups have suffered a disproportionate share of the cases because of a variety of socioeconomic factors.

Some counties welcomed the news and said it will build on efforts underway. Supporters of a more rapid reopening criticized the measure.

NEW ORLEANS -- Starting this weekend, New Orleans bars will be allowed to sell drinks to go and restaurants may operate at 75% indoor capacity instead of 50% since a number of coronavirus indicators have stayed low, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.

The limit for restaurants and other businesses matches the state limit set weeks ago. If all goes well, New Orleans could match all state reopening levels by Oct. 31, with two more possible groups of changes, Cantrell said Thursday at a livestreamed news conference.

Those will depend on public response “ensuring we are a healthy city not only to live in but to visit,” she said.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards let some bars reopen and restaurants and other businesses move to 75% of indoor capacity on Sept. 11. New Orleans, which had shut down bars in July, did not follow suit.

French Quarter and downtown stores cannot sell package liquor outside bars’ state-set hours of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. because when bars were allowed to reopen earlier, “crowds continued drinking package liquor” after 11 p.m., the mayor said.

Cantrell said the city had closed six businesses as of Wednesday for flouting pandemic restrictions.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky reported 17 more coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, one of its highest one-day totals as the state combats an escalating outbreak.

The latest deaths included a 29-year-old woman from Clark County who had “significant underlying health conditions,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. Her death marked the first coronavirus-linked fatality of someone in their 20s to be reported in Kentucky, he said.

The 17 deaths were the fifth-highest daily total in Kentucky since the start of the pandemic, he said.

The state also reported 910 new cases of COVID-19, down from the prior two days when daily case counts topped 1,000, the governor said. The spike in cases is hitting rural and urban areas, and Beshear said the state remains on course to set another record for the number of cases in a week.

“When we have a lot of cases, sadly a lot of death follows,” Beshear said at a news conference.

The Democratic governor continued to stress the need to wear masks in public, maintain social distancing and follow other health guidelines to contain the virus.

“We can turn this escalation around,” he said.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota health officials have reported all-time highs for the toll of the coronavirus with 13 deaths and 747 more people who tested positive.

State epidemiologist Josh Clayton says communities statewide — from cities to rural areas — are seeing significant levels of the virus. He noted that 245 of the infections reported were backlogged from previous days after a reporting error.

One of the largest outbreaks came from a women’s prison in Pierre as mass testing revealed that 29 more women in one housing unit had the virus. A total of 197 prisoners and staff have tested positive and 110 have recovered.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A mask mandate in Tulsa is being expanded and extended in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The amended measure lowers the age of those who must wear face coverings from 18 and up to those older than 10. It also extends through Jan. 31 the mandate for masks to be worn in public when social distancing is not possible. Previously it was to expire Nov. 30

President Donald Trump held an indoor campaign rally in Tulsa on June 20 that attracted about 6,000 attendees as well as protesters. Local Health Department director Bruce Dart said later that the event “likely contributed” to a sharp surge in new coronavirus cases.

As of Thursday, Oklahoma’s state health department has recorded 88,369 virus cases and 1,035 deaths due to COVID-19, increases of 1,170 and four, respectively, from the previous day.

DENVER — Colorado’s deadliest workplace coronavirus outbreak has been declared resolved after five months, 291 cases and six deaths.

The determination regarding the outbreak at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley was made by the state Department of Public Health and Environment after there were no new cases for at least 28 days and an investigation was completed.

The announcement comes as families of some JBS employees who died say their worker’s compensation claims have been denied.

JBS argues that their infections were not work-related. The plant did not respond to requests for comment by Colorado Public Radio.

PHOENIX — Arizona is reporting 705 additional COVID-19 cases and 24 more deaths as health officials say all 15 counties have cleared state benchmarks for partial reopening of certain businesses.

The overall statewide total of confirmed cases is now 219,212 cases, and the death toll 5,674.

Arizona’s Department of Health Services says the classification of largely rural Graham County improved to “moderate transmission stage.” That made it the final county to meet criteria for reopening businesses such as indoor gyms, bars serving food and movie theaters.

One county, tiny Greenlee in southeastern Arizona, is at “minimal” status, the highest step below normal conditions.

HELENA, Mont. — Nearly half Montana’s confirmed COVID-19 cases came in September as the state continues to report record numbers of infections.

The state reported 429 cases Thursday, the highest daily total by a margin of 81. Overall there were just over 6,000 in September, or 44% of the 13,500 since mid-March.

The true numbers are thought to be much higher because not everyone has been tested, and studies show people can have COVID-19 without experiencing symptoms.

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho will remain in the fourth and final stage of Gov. Brad Little’s economic-reopening plan for at least another two weeks as coronavirus infections and deaths rise.

The Republican governor says Idaho will receive 530,000 rapid antigen tests that will be prioritized for schools. Little also announced Thursday the formation of a COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee in anticipation of a vaccine that would be distributed by the federal government.

Stage 4 of Idaho’s plan allows most businesses to open.

WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials say hospitals bought only about a third of the doses of remdesivir that they were offered over the last few months to treat COVID-19, as the government stops overseeing the drug’s distribution.

Between July and September, 500,000 treatment courses were made available to state and local health departments but only about 161,000 were purchased.

Dr. John Redd of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday that “we see this as a very good sign” that supply now outstrips demand and it’s OK for hospitals to start buying the drug, also known as Veklury, directly from maker Gilead Sciences Inc.

The government will buy some of the excess for the national stockpile.

Several studies suggest remdesivir can shorten time to recovery and hospital stays by four days on average.

At $3,200 per treatment course, its price might be playing a role in the low demand.

LONDON — A British lawmaker has apologized for travelling to London to attend a coronavirus debate in Parliament despite having COVID-19 symptoms. She also took a train home to Scotland after getting a positive test.

The Scottish National Party suspended Margaret Ferrier after she said that “there is no excuse for my actions” and that she had reported herself to police.

People in Britain are told they must self-isolate if they have COVID-10 symptoms and while they are waiting for a test result.

Also Thursday, Stanley Johnson, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s father, apologized after he was photographed shopping without a face covering.

Britain’s government recently raised fines for not wearing masks in places like stores in a bid to curb a spike in infections.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Republican state lawmaker’s positive test for the coronavirus has prompted legislative leaders to cancel the Pennsylvania House’s voting session.

Human resources workers were deployed to trace Rep. Paul Schemel’s personal contacts to see if others should be quarantined.

He was most recently in the Capitol on Tuesday, and it’s unclear if he wore a mask while in the building’s public spaces.

MADRID — Spain’s health ministry has reported 9,419 new coronavirus cases as the country struggles to control Europe’s most worrisome flare-up.

The ministry says 3,715 of the cases were diagnosed in the last 24 hours. The remainder were from previous days but not reported to central authorities until now.

Spain leads Europe with more than 778,600 cases. The ministry reported another 182 confirmed deaths, increasing the total to 31,973.

NEW YORK — Schools across New York report that at least 1,200 students and staff have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the academic year.

As of Tuesday, 693 public and private schools had reported at least one infection. Around 700 students and 400 school staff have tested positive. State officials note the count doesn’t capture the full extent of infections among schoolchildren.

A separate data system operated by state health officials has documented around 2,300 infections among school-age children since Sept. 1.

The district is rolling out a monthly plan to test students and staff. Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city plans more than 100,000 tests on students a month, at a cost of $78-$90 a piece.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico State University will move classes entirely online after the Thanksgiving break and the college’s fall commencement will not be held.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports University President John Floros says the university surveyed students, faculty and staff at the Las Cruces campus about returning following the break, when there will be two weeks left in the fall semester.

The campus will remain open to provide housing, dining and other services. The college plans to return to in-person classes after winter break.

BEIRUT — Syrian state media report the country has reopened the capital’s main airport for international flights amid tight coronavirus measures.

The Damascus International Airport had been closed since early March, though some flights have brought home Syrians stranded outside the country.

Syria has 4,200 confirmed coronavirus cases and 200 deaths in government-held areas. Scores more cases have been registered in northern areas outside government control.

CHICAGO — Add ballet in Chicago to the list of things called off because of the pandemic.

The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago says it has canceled its entire 2020-21 season, which runs through spring.

The Joffrey says the decision will cost it more than $9 million in lost box office receipts.

A philanthropic fund called the Joffrey Crisis Stabilization has been set up with a goal of raising $12 million, with some $9 million already raised.

MILAN — Italy has tallied 2,548 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily total in five months.

Health authorities tested more than 118,000 people, a 10% increase from a day earlier.

Nearly 3,100 people are hospitalized, with 291 in intensive care. Italy has averaged 1,500 daily cases since schools reopened three weeks ago.

The nation has reached 317,409 cases and nearly 36,000 confirmed deaths.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Police say several parties and large gatherings coinciding with the University of South Carolina’s season-opening football game were broken up.

Columbia Police told The State newspaper Wednesday that three citations and four warnings were issued to residences that house some USC students.

The largest gathering was at an apartment complex near the Gamecocks’ Williams-Brice stadium, where about 300 people got together Saturday after the game.

HILO, Hawaii — A Hawaii food bank is now serving up to 80,000 people monthly.

That’s up from about 14,000 at this time last year, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports

Food Basket executive director Kristin Frost Albrecht says the group helps residents through a network of partner agencies and programs.

The organization serves between 2,000 and 3,700 people at each of its Big Island sites, and 80% to 85% of them are unemployed. Albrecht says there have been numerous donations, including food contributed by farmers.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland is reporting zero coronavirus deaths in a 24-hour period for the first time since March 28.

That doesn’t necessarily mean no COVID-19 deaths occurred in that time frame, because sometimes there is a delay in the submission of a death certificate.

Still, Gov. Larry Hogan says it’s an “encouraging milestone” and a tribute to the efforts of health care workers.

LONDON — The European Medicines Agency has begun its first review process for an experimental COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.

The EU regulator says it started a “rolling review” process it hopes will expedite any eventual approval.

The EMA has begun analyzing preliminary information from scientists on the Oxford vaccine that suggest it “triggers the production of antibodies and T-Cells,” referring to immune system cells that target the virus.

The agency says it was waiting for data from ongoing late-stage tests of the vaccine involving thousands of people, which it hopes will be shared in the coming months.

The Oxford vaccine is proceeding with a large U.K. trial even though a similar study has been halted in the U.S. while the FDA examines the report of a serious neurological side effect in a British trial participant.

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Bolstering Philippine tourism as it bounces back

By Chelsey Keith P. Ignacio , Special Features and Content Senior Writer

Travel plans were put on hold amid the border closures and limited mobility prompted by the pandemic. But as restrictions ease and places reopen last year, many travelers are now pumped to get packing. The recovery of tourism, therefore, is taking off. So what lies ahead for the industry this year?

From optimism towards tourism to initiatives to strengthen the industry, tourism leaders and players explored “Further Rebounding the Philippine Tourism Sector” during the BusinessWorld Insights online forum on May 3.

The Philippines has welcomed over 1.8 million international arrivals in the first four months of 2023, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. This already surpassed DoT’s target of 1.7 million for last year, which the country also exceeded with 2.65 international arrivals logged in 2022.

“For 2023, the projections of the DoT are that we would be able to usher in no less than 4.8 million in international arrivals. And we fully anticipate the 100% recovery of domestic tourism this year, meaning no less than 122 million domestic trips,” Ms. Frasco said.

“We are very confident of being able to accomplish our goals and that I consider to be our baseline, not our ceiling,” she added.

Hotels and restaurants are now also serving more people, according to Robert John Horrigan, general manager of Acacia Hotel and vice-president for Hotel Division of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP).

“With the HRAP, we’ve seen our occupancies go higher and our average daily rates; in our restaurants, we have more and more diners. So it is here, revenge travel and tourism is back,” he said.

Maria Suzette Geminiano, corporate marketing manager of Hotel Sogo, meanwhile expressed her bullishness over the path ahead for the country’s tourism.

“We still remain optimistic about the future of Philippine tourism. And by implementing the right measures and working together, we can further rebound and emerge as stronger tourism industry,” she said.

Ms. Geminiano also observed three angles in the changed behavior among travelers in the course of the pandemic.

These behaviors included revenge tourism among several people, with their eagerness to have relaxation and recreation driving them to book many travels; fear of the virus, which would push some people to choose a specific location to stay in; and spending more time with families or loved ones, after some people experienced losing someone during the pandemic.

“These three experiences or behaviors will all still drive us to the improvement of our tourism,” Ms. Geminiano said.

Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) President Patria T. Chiong also said they are “very optimistic and enthusiastic” now as they are launching events, travels, and tourism, as well as promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination domestically and internationally.

Ms. Chiong especially promoted other parts of the country among Filipino travelers. “We should not only promote Manila because Manila is already congested to our international travelers, but also promote the other cities,” she said.

“We not only have Manila as a tourist destination, but we also have Cebu, Davao, Siargao, and other destinations in the Philippines. As all of us know, the Philippines is an archipelago and we have more than 7,000 islands and we cater to all types of tourists,” she added.

Ms. Chiong also considered word-of-mouth advertising as the best way to persuade friends and family members to travel to one’s preferred tourist destinations in the country.

Additionally, she highlighted that Filipinos should help each other and promote the country to foreign people abroad.

“That’s what I do every time I go abroad. I inform my foreign friends, ‘Come and visit us and I’ll show you around.’ If all Filipinos could do that — or let’s just say half of us, that is already 55 million — it would be easy to achieve the target of DoT,” she said.

Infrastructure

HRAP’s Mr. Horrigan hoped Philippine tourism’s gross domestic product to reach 20%, similar to its neighboring countries Malaysia and Thailand. For this matter, he said, the key is infrastructure.

“The World Travel and Tourism Council were talking about the Philippines. We have the best beaches, the best people, but they were talking about infrastructure. And so that’s one area that we lacked, meaning international airports,” he shared.

Yet, he said that HRAP is excited about the creation of more international airports, such as the Bulacan International Airport and the Sangley Airport in Cavite.

“A lot of countries have issues with manpower, their beaches are not as nice. We actually have them all. So it’s really infrastructure, which the government is working on right now,” he said.

Key strategies

For the government’s part, connectivity, convenience, and equality are the three key strategies in going about implementing its vision of “establish[ing] a tourism industry that is anchored on Filipino culture, heritage, and identity, which aims to be sustainable, resilient, and competitive in order to transform the Philippines into a tourism powerhouse in Asia,” DoT’s Ms. Frasco said.

Among the government’s initiatives for connectivity is negotiating for more flights not only coming into key destinations but also to lesser-known destinations.

“We have also looked into the maximization of our secondary gateways, looking to expand flights out of our Metro Manila airport into our secondary airports such as Clark, Cebu, Davao International Airport, and the like,” Ms. Frasco said.

And to provide convenience to tourists, the Tourism Secretary said they are setting up tourism information booths throughout the country. The government is also developing a Tourist Life Cycle app and a tourist call center.

Meanwhile, equality meant ensuring that “no destination is left behind in the development of tourism in the country,” said Ms. Frasco. Thus, she said the government is looking into different tourism portfolio, seeking to make the Philippine experience known to the world. This would include festivals, foods, and products of local artisans and makers.

Sustainable tourism

As tourism is expected to get back on track, several destinations in the Philippines would be flocked by Filipino and foreign travelers. But would this affect the environment?

Tourism could cause problems to the environment such as pollution. To ensure that the environment would not be damaged by the surge of tourists in different destinations, the respective local government units (LGUs) have a critical role to play.

“The government has to step in because privately, we cannot control the number of arrivals,” PTAA’s Ms. Chiong said. “The government has to impose restrictions and strict rules to be followed.” And LGUs, she added, should support DoT’s initiatives.

Ms. Frasco of DoT also said that policies on sustainable development serve no purpose if unable to be put in place with LGUs’ cooperation.

Sustainable tourism is “the bedrock of tourism development” under the current administration and is the umbrella of policies established under the National Tourism Development Plan, according to Ms. Frasco.

She also mentioned the proposal for forming a National Sustainable Tourism Council, which would be composed of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other related government agencies.

“So it’s a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach as far as ensuring that we’re able to institute policies that ensure the longevity of the destination, and to ensure also that we encourage our tourists to leave the destination better than when they found it,” she said.

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DOT's Philippine Experience Program participants explore Palawan Underground River

Posted: April 12, 2024 | Last updated: April 12, 2024

Participants of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) of the Department of Tourism (DOT), aboard a paddle boat, explore the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park or the Underground River in the province of Palawan on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The protected area, chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of Nature in the world and declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the reasons Palawan is the top cruise ship destination in the country. (MB Video by Noel B. Pabalate)

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WATCH: Miss Universe Philippines 2024 queens in their tourism videos

By Nechole Jayne Garcia Published Apr 07, 2024 4:10 pm

The showdown for the Miss Universe Philippines crown has begun!  

The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization released the complied tourism videos of this year’s delegates promoting the places they're representing.

On the Empire Philippines’ YouTube channel, the video invites viewers to “journey with our delegates as they unveil the diverse places they proudly call home."

The 53 candidates showcased their local landscapes, food, culture, and people in the 1 hour and almost 45-minute video. Each clip had different approaches and tactics to promote their cities and provinces.

Get to know more about the beauty queens before the final competition on May 13, 2023 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Here are the standout introductions:

Yvonne Catamco showcased what the “City of Smiles” has to offer by sharing what makes her smile: family, friends, music, dancing, and food. 

"Being in the place where I grew up, I am confident that this is where I continue to grow and progress into the Super Yvonne that I wish for the Universe to see," she said.

Even those who are not the “bunso” in the family know the feeling of being asked to buy something at the market, getting distracted in the process, and later on forgetting what you went there for. That was Victoria Velasquez Vincent’s humorous video introduction whilst showing a few products that Bacoor has.  

From buying tahong at the market to “aawra lang” through the streets, Victoria subtly but effectively showed the pride of her home: noble people (past and present-day heroes) and natural heritage. Even comparing the “multifaceted, vibrant, ever-evolving" Bacooreños to the famous Filipino delicacy “halo-halo.”  

Bantayan Island

Juvel Mangubat Ducay is the first to represent Bantayan Island in the MUPH stage – and she did not waste any second showing the universe of the hidden paradise in her home. Juvel describes her home as a place “where nature’s beauty shines from the land to the sea, with its pristine coastlines and breath-taking natural attractions”—a place where paradise, culture, heritage, and faith interconnect.  

Dia Mate chose to highlight Cavite’s role in the history of the Philippine Revolution and the birth of our nation. While showcasing its historical attributes and tourist attractions, Dia's main message was to give thanks to Cavite for its contributions: historical figures like Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, and Julian Felipe, the composer of Lupang Hinirang; the Philippine flag was first unfurled at Imus, Cavite; and the Magdalo Band which is the oldest band in Cavite and claimed the first to perform the National Anthem.    

Starting with the known story of “Maria Makiling,” Alexandra Rosales showed how the legend has impacted the belief and attitude of the Lagunenses in protecting and preserving their natural landscapes and resources – showing the majestic views and trails Laguna has to offer.    

Quezon Province

A compilation of pictures and video clips was all that Ma. Ahtisa Manalo used to showcase the beauty and energy of Quezon Province. Ahtisa's video was uniquely the only one without some kind of narration from the candidate herself. Despite not having a voice-over, the video successfully showed the culture, people, heritage, landmarks, food, and beauty of Quezon Province.

Watch the full video below:

TAGS: miss universe philippines muph

Nechole Jayne Garcia

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Miss Universe Philippines 2024 bets take viewers on a virtual tour of PH

Watch the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 delegates’ tourism videos online./SCREENGRAB FROM EMPIRE PHILIPPINES YOUTUBE CHANNEL

After the release of the delegates’ introduction videos and the series of “Her Story” entries, the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant now takes online viewers on a virtual tour of the country through the respective tourism videos of the 52 aspirants.

The videos dropped on April 6, at 6 P.M., and are now available for online viewers to watch all over the world.

One of the most anticipated phases of the virtual leg of the competition is the showcase of the different tourist attractions as delivered by the delegates themselves, acting as tour guides that feature some of the best destinations, gastronomic offerings, and cultural wonders throughout the Philippines.

The expectations are high this year with the full implementation of the pageant’s “accredited partnerships” program, where all the delegates have the backing of authorized individuals or groups who are expected to provide all the necessary support that a candidate would need to best compete in the national tilt, including assistance in producing the video requirements for the contest.

In the four previous editions, the Miss Universe Philippines pageant still conducted individual screenings of applicants, while getting partners from different parts of the country to send their delegates. This year, no individual applicants were accepted, and all delegates were fielded by accredited partners.

As in the introduction videos and “Her Story” videos, the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 delegates’ tourism videos were made available on the official YouTube channel of Empire Philippines, the team behind the annual competition and the sister search The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration, as well as the male tilt Mister Pilipinas Worldwide.

Avid pageant followers are seeing the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines competition as a “bloodbath” with a competitive batch of contenders comprised of international titleholders and runners-up, seasoned contestants, and formidable newcomers.

The winner will succeed Michelle Marquez Dee, and will represent the Philippines in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later this year. The new queen will be crowned at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 22.

The Philippines has recorded four victories in the Miss Universe pageant, courtesy of Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margie Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Catriona Gray in 2018.

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