LAOAG CITY – Everything is set for the formal launch of the “Ridge and Reef Baguio City – Region 1 Travel Corridor” in Ilocos Norte on October 20, according to Ilocos Norte’s Communications and Media Officer Rhona Ysabel Daoang.
She said that it will be the main focus for the conduct of the Seventh Region 1 Tourism Convention which will be hosted by the province of Ilocos Norte.
Among the highlights of the event will be the launch of the Region 1 Travel Corridor and Branding Campaign in Sitio Remedios, Currimao, Ilocos Norte, the opening of the Ridge and Reef mini-travel fair at the Robinsons Mall in San Nicolas town, and the Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor B2B in Fort Ilocandia Resort.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is expected to grace the three significant events that aims to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic across tourism industries in Northern Luzon.
Last month, delegations composed of Region 1 tourism officers, representatives from local government executives, and presidents of various tourism stakeholders associations, attended the launch of the “Ridge and Reef Travel Corridor,” in Baguio City. The event signaled the formal reopening of domestic tourism in Northern Luzon amid the COVID19 pandemic.
On Thursday, the province of Ilocos Norte started to open its borders for leisure travel in which tourists from the whole of Luzon island were already allowed to visit the province. This was part of the Phase II of the Ridge and Reef Expanded Travel Corridor initiative of the local chief executives and tourism councils in Northern Luzon.
“As of Saturday, we already welcomed two tourists from Baguio City and another two from National Capital Region (NCR). We are expecting the arrival more tourists in the future following the unlocking the entry of the borders in the province,” Daoang said.
The provincial government, Ilocos Norte through Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, had issued an executive order pertaining to the guidelines for safely welcoming tourists from other Luzon regions.
Only 50 pre-arranged visitors, through Department of Tourism (DOT)-accredited tour agencies and establishments, were allowed to enter the province each day. Those who are pregnant, with comorbidities, and children with chronic health conditions were not permitted to travel here.
Under the executive order that established the guidelines for the second phase of reopening of tourism in Ilocos Norte, visitors were subject to compulsory COVID-19 tests before traveling to the province.
In identified general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ) areas with high infection rate, travelers must have reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results released within 72 hours of arrival, and will undergo Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) at the provincial borders upon arrival. Alternatively, travelers from these areas can have RDT issued within 30 hours of arrival and RT-PCR test will follow upon the arrival.
Travelers coming from GCQ and MGCQ areas with a low infection rate may either have RT-PCR or RDT tests and another RDT at the border upon arrival.
Leisure travelers, who plan to stay for longer than three days in the province, must follow the repeat RDT test on the fourth, ninth, and fourteenth day of stay.
Registration to SafePass is also necessary for systemized management and contact tracing. The tourist’s information such as confirmed accommodation, travel agent, confirmed itinerary, medical certificate, and negative test results are recorded in every account.
Likewise, the software application will generate a QR code which will serve as the visitor’s Health Declaration ID and Travel Pass Authority at the provincial borders.
Tourists can only proceed with their itinerary with the guidance of their travel agencies only if they have accomplished the following on a designated Visitors Center: negative COVID-19 test results, validated Health Declaration, and signed Affidavit of Understanding.
In cases that a tourist manifests COVID-19 symptoms or strays from the set itinerary and cannot be contacted for two hours, an RT-PCR re-test would be required.
With the gradual easing of travel restrictions and enabling the tourism to begin again, Manotoc assured that the priority of this initiative will ultimately benefit tourism-dependent families.