The government's pandemic task force has allowed establishments accredited for staycation activities may now operate at full capacity and may also forego requiring the coronavirus (COVID-19) testing requirement for guests.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement as the country further reopens the economy amid the pandemic.
Roque said over State-run PTV-4 that accommodation establishments with certificates of authority to operate for staycation accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) are now allowed to accommodate guests for staycation up to 100 percent of the venue's capacity.
These staycation hotels may also forego the COVID-19 testing of guests as a prerequisite for accommodation as long as only 18 to 65 years old shall be allowed as guests.
DOT-accredited accommodation establishments in areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), on the other hand, may accommodate guests for leisure purposes for up to 30 percent of their venue capacity subject to DOT guidelines and other conditions.
On May 18, the DOT announced that 13 hotels in the National Capital Region (NCR) were opened to the public for staycation after the region was placed under GCQ.
The 13 staycation hotels in NCR are:
- Grand Hyatt Hotel, Taguig
- Okada Manila Hotel
- Shangri-la at the Fort, Taguig
- Nobu Hotel in Manila
- Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites, Manila
- EDSA Shangri-la, Manila
- Solaire Resort, Paranaque
- Hyatt Regency
- Nuwa Hotel of City of Dreams
- The Peninsula Manila
- Aruga by Rockwell, Makati
- Sheraton Manila Hotel
- Hilton Hotel in Manila.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said these hotels have 5,986 rooms available for tourists from the Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, collectively known as the NCR-plus bubble area.
"While the IATF allowed our request to permit leisure travel under the current quarantine condition, we would like to remind everyone that the health and safety of our guests and tourism workers remain the utmost priority," she said in a statement.
"These staycation hotels, all of which are star-rated, have the capacity and have been inspected and oriented on the new normal protocols to ensure this," she added.