Discovery World Corporation, the owner of Discovery resorts and hotels, is bullish about the prospects of Philippine tourism in the fourth quarter of 2021 as quarantine restrictions are being eased further.
While travel and tourism were among the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic, the firm said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that the outlook of tourism in the Philippines is starting to appear optimistic in the next few months.
It noted that, indicative of the movement towards a promising end of 2021 and a brighter 2022 include the easement of the quarantine status of NCR and of the other provinces to Alert Level 3 and lower and the relaxation of the rules for arriving passengers from abroad.
Also a factor is the removal of age restriction for fully-vaccinated travelers to Coron and Boracay, and the removal of RT-PCR test requirement for fully-vaccinated traveler to Cebu, Negros Occidental and Tacloban. Several airline companies have also expanded the number of their flights.
“We truly appreciate the relaxed travel requirements and the eased restrictions on other tourism- related operations, especially since we are nearing the Christmas season when families, balikbayans and even groups of friends come to Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Palawan to spend the holidays,” said Jun Parreño, President of Discovery World Corporation and Discovery Hospitality Corporation.
He added that, “Both resorts, and even our city hotels; namely Discovery Suites Ortigas and Discovery Primea Makati, are ready for them with a 100 percent fully-vaccinated workforce.” “This added layer of protection, for both staff and guests, is one of the major steps towards the bounce back of the tourism industry,” Parreño noted.
The firm said Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Palawan are well primed for the hospitality rebound as both are given the Safety Travels mark by Word Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Safety Seal certification by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“Our guests in both resorts have expressed that their stay with us is exactly what they needed after a long time of being boxed in the four walls of their homes,” said Parreño.
He added that, “The fresh air and sprawling white beach along Discovery Shores Boracay, the biodiversity and the exclusivity of the private island of Club Paradise Palawan, together with the reassuring feeling that they in a safe place and that our resorts are like an extension of their homes are what our guests long for.”