2 NCR resorts awarded WTTC ‘safe travels’ stamp from the D.O.T.
TWO 5-star resorts in Metro Manila have been awarded the Entire world Vacation and Tourism Council (WTTC) Harmless Travels Stamp issued through the Division of Tourism (DOT).
These lodges are the Pleasure Nostalg Resort and Suites Manila, in the Ortigas Business District, and the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bonifacio World Metropolis, Taguig. This is the first time the DOT is granting these WTTC stamps, immediately after the Philippines became the 100th place to obtain the stamp alone final September. The non-public global tourism firm acknowledged the country as getting the ideal overall health and protection tips in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, in holding with the WTTC’s main prerequisites.
In a news assertion, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “Following [the country’s] milestone, the DOT has taken the purpose as Safe and sound Vacation Ambassador, advocating the implementation of the Harmless Travel protocols and the enrollment not only of tourism enterprises, but much more importantly, of destinations that are compliant with stated protocols.”
She enjoined more locations and enterprises “to secure this seal of fantastic housekeeping to greater leverage our state as a safe tourism location.”
Will it enable nevertheless?
The DOT has tried to additional push domestic tourism in the nation by making it possible for 4- and 5-star accommodations in the Countrywide Cash Location and other areas beneath normal community quarantine to supply staycations to Covid-weary family members. (See, “‘Staycations’ now allowed under GCQ, but quick tests required,” in the BusinessMirror, September 28, 2020.)
To date, there are 15 resorts with staycation accreditation: Grand Hyatt Resort, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Okada Manila Lodge, Shangri-La at the Fort, Nobu Hotel/Hyatt Regency/Nuwa Manila in the Metropolis of Dreams, Pleasure Nostalg Resort and Suites Manila, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Solaire Resort and Casino, The Peninsula Manila, Aruga by Rockwell, Sheraton Manila Lodge, Hilton Manila, and Resort Okura Manila.
Inspite of this, the Makati Shangri-La has made the decision to near its doors temporarily starting off February 1, citing “continued low small business concentrations,” because of to ongoing worldwide journey limitations. Prior to staying a staycation resort, it was accommodating returning overseas Filipinos and expatriates who necessary to quarantine whilst waiting around for their Covid test results, mentioned a firm spokesperson. (See, “Another Covid sufferer: Makati Shang closes doorways in February,” in the BusinessMirror, Jan. 20, 2021.)
Grand Hyatt for instance, documented its occupancy ranges concerning 3 and 8 % past November.
A tourism leader observed, though, that aspect of the trouble for staycation accommodations is that “they are supplying pre-pandemic [room] charges.” Certainly, a relaxed look by on line scheduling platforms like Agoda, present room fees of quite a few of these staycation motels starting up at P8,500 to P10,000 a night time.
“Why would families want to staycation, when they can fork out for the identical amount in places that are previously open up, like Boracay, and get a lot more room evenings,” requested Jose C. Clemente III, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines.
A staycation hotel insider who requested anonymity admitted that the demand from customers for rooms at their establishment was “not as a lot as we would want to have. The additional charge of the antigen test could be a stress for lots of families just can’t rule out the security part far too.”
The supply claimed even although its antigen associate costs P1,500, “If you’re a household of 3, that would be P4,500, which some truly feel they could shell out on food items by now.”
What the stamp means
The WTTC Protected Travels Stamp is the world’s to start with-ever world protection and cleanliness stamp. It is a specially intended stamp, which will let vacationers to identify governments and firms all over the entire world that have adopted wellbeing and hygiene globally standardized protocols and practical experience “Safe Travels.”
Apart from remaining promoted on the net web-sites and social media platforms of the DOT and its marketing and advertising arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Harmless Move recipients will also benefit from world publicity and the vast community of WTTC member corporations, as well as brand name recognition with the logos distinctly posted on the WTTC website website.
“While our staycation accommodations are very skilled, having currently handed the DOT well being and protection guidelines on major of the rigid star-ranking evaluation, they still require to use [for the pass],” said Romulo Puyat. “As bearers of this stamp, they carry the duty to sustain implementation of DOT health and fitness and safety pointers and ensuring that these keep on being aligned with those people of the WTTC,” she asserted.
The DOT, she pointed out, will aggressively go after its marketing campaign to enlist neighborhood destinations that have reopened so that when global journey limits get started to rest, and with a thriving vaccination plan restoring worldwide travel self esteem, the Philippines will be “top-of-brain between the most secure destinations in the world.” DOT-accredited enterprises may possibly use by way of their respective regional places of work.