More than 50 percent of tourism workers in Cebu have already received their jabs against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with the continued rollout of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) vaccination program in the province.

According to the DOT, a total of 7,764 tourism frontliners or almost 52 percent of the 15,157 target have been inoculated under the program as of September 22.

Per tourist areas, Mandaue already provided shots for 647 tourism workers, translating to 61 percent vaccination rate; 3,074 workers or 82 percent in Lapu-Lapu City; and 2,453 or 60 percent in Cebu City.

In the province of Cebu, 1,590 tourism workers have been vaccinated or 25 percent of its 6,405 target.

Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reiterated her call for a stronger public-private sector coordination to further speed up the coveted immunity among tourism workers.

"Vaccinating our tourism frontliners is the first step in regaining what the industry has lost from the pandemic hence, protecting our stakeholders in the soonest time will help reverse these effects and recoup our tourism's momentum,” Puyat said during the ceremonial vaccination for tourism workers in Cebu on Friday, Sept. 24.

“We need every help we can get to finally overcome this crisis as this really requires a whole-of-industry approach, involving not only the government but the private sector as well,” she added.

Among the Cebu vaccine recipients include workers in Bai Hotel, Catalina Car Rentals, Lighthouse Restaurant, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, Casa Verde Restaurant, and Amethyst Boutique Hotel.

The tourism chief also thanked vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and testing czar Vince Dizon for their support of the Department's vaccination efforts and for recognizing the vital role that tourism workers play in revitalizing the economy.

"With their help and the commitment of the Cebu stakeholders, 100 percent of the tourism workers in the province will be vaccinated by end of December of 2021," Puyat claimed.

Meanwhile, the DOT reported higher accreditation among tourism establishments in Cebu amid the pandemic.

As of Sept. 15, tourism employees in DOT-accredited establishments in Cebu Province, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City totaled 16,441--higher than the recorded 15,233 and 12,892 in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Under the resolution of the government's pandemic task force, only hotels and accommodation establishments with valid DOT accreditation shall be allowed to accept guests and clients for legitimate purposes under the state of a public health emergency.