The Department of Tourism (DOTr) hailed the provincial government of Samar for its efforts in inoculating tourism frontliners in the province, which it said, added to the 93 percent vaccination rate among tourism workers in Eastern Visayas.
"We are grateful to Governor Michael Tan and the provincial government of Samar for the vaccines that will be given to this initial batch of workers," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
Puyat said 26 percent of the 350 tourism workers in Samar's accommodation establishments already received their vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Some 179 workers are yet to get vaccinated while 37 are still undecided.
For the entire Eastern Visayas, the DOT reported that 93 percent of the 454 employees from 21 DOT-accredited accommodation establishments (AEs) have already been either fully or partially vaccinated.
Other 389 hotels and resorts in the region with a total of 4,144 workers have fully vaccinated 27 percent of their workers, while 16 percent have received their first jab.
Puyat assured that workers who are yet to be inoculated will receive their respective doses once the vaccines allocated for the DOT's vaccination program arrive.
"With the ongoing rise in positive cases caused by the Delta variant, there is no room for hesitation or doubts. I urge all tourism workers who are eligible, to avail of the vaccine when they arrive," Puyat said.
"Rest assured, we are expediting the delivery of these doses and we are committed to getting every active tourism worker jabbed," she added.
Aside from individual tourism workers, the Samar LGU said that they will also prioritize the vaccination of community-based tourism organizations that operate a number of nature and adventure sites in the province.
To help in the revival of the province's tourism industry, Puyat said the Department is planning to further enhance tourism development in Samar, including the Leyte-Samar Interface Tourism Circuit and the Barobaybay Mangrove Ecopark.
"With so much to look forward to for Samar’s tourism, I hope everyone continues to tap into the spirit of Bayanihan. We are part of a community that can only move forward and progress as one if we all do our part in helping and supporting each other," Puyat added.