By Marjaleen Ramos The Philippines remains a safe travel destination for tourists amid the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) scare, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) said on Tuesday. In a joint statement obtained by CNN Philippines, the DOT and TCP gave the assurance that all preventive and precautionary measures are being put in place by the national government to curb the spreading of the virus. The government earlier ordered a temporary ban of tourists coming from Greater China, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, or those who have been to those affected areas within 14 days prior to their arrival in the Philippines. It added that before the temporary ban was imposed, the tourism sector had already implemented safeguards in light of the nCoV threat. The DOT said it has released guidelines in handling guests in tourism enterprises during the global emergency. "In our airports, and some tourism establishments, temperatures are taken via infrared thermometers before allowing guests to enter, and more hand sanitizers have been made available for use." "The safety of the public, especially the tourists and employees in the tourism sector, remains the priority of DOT and TCP," DOT reiterated. READ MORE: Duterte orders entry ban on all nationalities traveling from China except Filipinos Meanwhile, the public was reminded to maintain proper hygiene as part of preventing the spread of the virus. "Wash your hands regularly, wear a surgical mask when going to crowded areas if you have a cough or a cold, and stay indoors or seek medical help if you have a fever." The tourism sector has also agreed to roll out a tactical program that will offer more value-added tour packages, discounted accommodation rates, and marked-down prices for domestic flights to mitigate the impact of the nCoV crisis, the DOT and TCP said. The DOT also said it is committed in intensifying its marketing and promotions domestically and internationally, especially in key markets such as South Korea, the United States, and Japan, as well as in emerging markets that cover Western Europe, the Middle East, Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and neighboring Southeast Asian Countries. "In these challenging times, the tourism sector spanning airlines, hotels, and tour operators, have banded together for the continued growth of the industry," the department said. "It is because of this support from both the public and private sector that we reiterate that the Philippines remains a vast, diverse, and most importantly, safe destination for international and domestic travelers alike." READ MORE: BI extends travel ban to include tourists from Taiwan