A property market news report recommended that the restart of the hotel sector through domestic tourism be started through the creation of secure and COVID-proof accommodation facilities.
“Restoring travel appetite among domestic travelers could take some time even if a number of accommodation establishments have been allowed to restart operations,” Cushman and Wakefield Philippines said in their report.
The Department of Tourism reported earlier this month that over 7,000 accommodation establishments have been given the green light to operate under varying quarantine conditions through the issuance of Certificates of Authority to Operate (CAO).
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said a CAO not only indicates the allowable operation of such establishments, it likewise adds to guest confidence, knowing that inspections have been conducted and health and safety protocols are in place.
Cushman and Wakefield earlier said cautious customers would continue to dampen the travel industry for both international and domestic tourism. The additional costs and uncertainties of securing mandatory medical/health certificates and other domestic travel requirements issued by local and national governments are expected to deter travel as the sector attempts to ramp up.
Secure and COVID-proof facilities and protocols are going to be the standard for most industries, not just tourism, in the coming months. The attention will be more noticeable among accommodation establishments that are also among the hardest hit by the pandemic but everyone will have to adjust to the new normal as we collectively work on revitalizing our economy that seems to have been more negatively affected by the pandemic compared to other countries.*
