As the country is set to welcome foreign tourists back on its shores, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reminded that minimum health protocols should still be strictly observed while traveling.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said following basic health and safety protocols such as wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing will help prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Puyat said they have been observing other countries, especially neighboring countries, that already reopened their borders to international leisure travelers.

"Ang napansin namin, as long as sundin iyong minimum health and safety protocol at bakunado iyong mga tao, safe ito talaga sa pagbukas (We have noticed that as long as minimum health and safety protocols are being followed and the people are vaccinated, it is actually safe to reopen)," Puyat explained.

The tourism chief cited the record-high infection rates reported in Europe as people became complacent in following the minimum health and safety protocols.

"Kaya ngayon sila sa Europe, binabalik na nila iyong wearing of the mask kasi nakita talaga nila kapag hindi sumusunod, kapag hindi na nagsusuot ng mask, iyong physical distancing at paghugas ng kamay, doon nagkaka-surge (They are now bringing back the wearing of face mask in Europe because they see that when you don't follow the protocols, there will be a surge)," Puyat said.

"(It is really important that first, they are fully vaccinated; and second, we still follow minimum health and safety protocols," she added.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier "approved in principle" the recommendation of the DOT to allow entry of fully vaccinated tourists from countries under the "green list."

According to the DOT, the resumption of leisure travel from "green countries," or those classified by the Department of Health (DOH) as low-risk countries, will be based on strict conditions.

Puyat said guidelines are now being finalized by a small technical working group on travel to be approved by the IATF prior to its implementation.

(Hopefully na by this week, ma-approve na pati iyong mga kondisyon at we can implement it soon para naman kapag Pasko 'di ba, masaya na (Hopefully, the guidelines will be approved this week so we can implement it soon so that when Christmas comes, it will be a happy one)," she said.

In preparation for the arrival of international travelers in the new normal, the DOT has been innovating and developing destinations and circuits to ensure safe, fun, and sustainable tourism for local and foreign tourists.

The country's tourism sector has been among the hardest hit by the ongoing health crisis due to travel restrictions to contain the spread of the COVID-19.