MANILA -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the latest resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) allowing interzonal leisure travel for residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) now that it will be placed under the Alert Level 4 classification from September 16-30, 2021.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, however, clarified that NCR residents who are below 18 and over 65 years old shall not be permitted to leave their residences for the purpose of leisure travel following Alert Level 4 guidelines.

Travelers will also be subject to reasonable restrictions based on age and comorbidities as may be determined by their respective local government unit (LGU) and the reasonable regulations of their destination's LGU.

Meanwhile, Puyat noted that the high inoculation rate among tourism workers from hotels will make dining in their restaurants safer.

"The good news is that 99 percent of tourism workers employed in hotels across Metro Manila have been vaccinated. All in all, tourism workers in NCR, including those in DOT-accredited restaurants recorded a 94 percent vaccination rate. This is an added assurance, not only to the safety of our guests, but our tourism workers as well," said Puyat.

Under the current guidelines, outdoor or al fresco dine-in will be allowed at 30 percent venue capacity while indoor dine-in will be allowed at 10 percent only for fully-vaccinated individuals.

"Allowing fully vaccinated guests to dine in restaurants located inside DOT-accredited hotels and restaurants will slowly help restart the economy while making sure all our tourism workers and guests are safe," she added.

The tourism chief also reminded all tourism-related establishments in the NCR that specialized markets of the DOT, such as Staycations, indoor visitor or tourist attractions, and indoor venues for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) are prohibited under Alert level 4 as per IATF ruling.

"In light of the rising COVID-19 cases across the country, everyone is strongly reminded to observe the minimum health and safety protocols at all times," said Puyat. (DOT)

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