A town in Negros Oriental that is noted for having one of the best diving sites in the world is now opening its doors to diving enthusiasts.
The coastal town of Dauin recently got an approval from the Negros Oriental Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (NOIATF-EID) to reopen their diving industry by adopting the tourism bubble concept.
The Apo Island in Dauin, home to majority of the 650 documented species of fish and over 400 species of corals, provided major contribution to the country’s recent achievement of bagging the “Best Diving Area, Overseas” award in the 2020 Marine Diving Awards in held in Japan.
For the area to be allowed to reopen the diving industry, the standard travel protocols must be adopted which include the COVID-19 test-before-travel or test-upon-arrival options, the validity of the required COVID-19 test, confirmed hotel reservation with a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment, confirmed round-trip plane tickets, and tour itinerary with a tour operator accredited by the Department of Tourism.
DOT-7 Regional Director Shalimar Tamano said that once the tourist arrives at the airport or seaport, there will be a van from the hotel/ resort that is accredited from the DOT to pick them up and bring them directly to the resort.
“Specifically, the tourist should have a 72-hour PCR negative test result, acceptance letter from Dauin, and email the itinerary to the LGU, so that it is like a contract where there is an itinerary to be submitted and have approved before the travel, and the tourist cannot go outside of Dauin," said Tamano.
Dauin is also advised to have a list of tourism sites like the Baslay Brew Coffee where strict protocols must be followed and law enforcers have to be present to ensure that the tourists are only confined to the areas stated in their approved itinerary.