THE provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) of Benguet has given the green light to reopen its tourism industry, but only on a local level.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas said that the region can now reopen its various tourist spots and attractions but only for locals, and with strict adherence to health and safety protocols to avoid a repeat of the previous surges of COVID-19 in the region.
Diclas said that the reopening is part of the province’s attempt to slowly and safely reopen tourism on a larger scale to revitalize its economy.
Under the provincial IATF’s guidelines, local tourists can now visit tourist sites and engage in tourism activities in the province.
Fully vaccinated tourists are required to present and keep on their person their vaccination cards, while unvaccinated local tourists are still allowed on the condition that they present negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results.
Under the guidelines, there are also provisions limiting tourist sites’ maximum carrying capacity.
Outdoors attractions and tourist sites are allowed to take in 50 percent of their maximum capacity, while enclosed and indoors locations can only take in 30 percent of their capacity.
