At least P19 million worth of promotional materials for safe local travel were distributed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), to boost the industry's recovery.
The DOT said some 15,000 sets of materials to promote health and safety protocols were handed to a total of 8,000 accommodation establishments and tourism enterprises accredited by the Department amid heightened concerns among domestic tourists.
The initiative is part of the efforts of the DOT and TPB to help tourism stakeholders—which are among the hardest hit by the ongoing pandemic—to comply with the new safety protocols and standards.
According to the Department, this will ensure confidence among local tourists to travel as destinations gradually reopen in September 2020
The DOT added that the distribution of health and safety protocol stickers and posters also aims to prepare these establishments for re-accreditation in line with its "Safe Trip, Pinas" local tourism campaign.
While the distribution of the promotional materials was adversely affected by border closures and mobility restrictions within the country last year, the TPB noted that all of these have already been distributed to date.
Despite global border restrictions halting leisure travel, the TPB assured that it will continue to fulfill its mandate to promote the Philippines with a "renewed focus to position the country’s tourism sites as safe and fun destinations."