Stricter tourism protocols for 

Bohol in new normal ordinance

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 11 (PIA) -- All tourists coming in to Bohol shall, upon check-in or booking, be required to present a confirmed hotel booking to vessel operators, otherwise they shall be denied entry.

Tourists would also be required to undergo an RT-PCR test, which they pay for, and would be asked to stay in a pre-booked quarantine hotel for a certain period of time as approved by the authorities.

They may only be allowed to go out of the facility for tours, after yielding a negative swab test result. 

In tourist sites, visiting tourists can only be allowed entry after securing an appointment or reservation made through a centralized reservation system portal managed by the Bohol Tourism Office, otherwise, they would be denied entry.

These are stipulated under Provincial Ordinance 2020-024 which establishes policies and regulations for the new normal for Bohol tourism.

The ordinance sets stricter protocols in ensuring health and safety measures against the pandemic as used by the tourism industry.

The ordinance, which lays down the policies and regulations for tourists, also applies to accommodation facilities, food and beverage facilities, tourist transport providers, travel and tour agencies, water sports, government agencies, and facilities as experienced by the tourist. 

For Bohol, after the suspension of tourism operations, tourism establishments have to get past another hurdle in order to operate, which gives the eco-tourism in the province a high chance for tourism sustainability.

Prior to any operations and after getting a Department of Tourism accreditation and permit to operate, any tourism establishment resuming operations must secure an Ultimate Bohol Experience (UBE) Seal of Excellence.

An UBE seal of excellence is granted to a DOT-accredited tourism establishment that complies with regulatory requirements, shows that it actively participates in government initiated programs and activities, practices all health and safety protocols, complies with the establishment's carrying capacity and environmental standards.

The tourism establishment must also be able to set an online booking and payments system, has a clean slate in major offenses, complaints and liabilities as well as having paid taxes to the government.

On tourism sites, only 50 percent of the maximum carrying capacity shall be filled, and the capacity limitation is posted in a conspicuous location for customers to see upon entering the premises.

The sites and destinations have to provide for a separate entrance and exit locations.

Except for tourists travelling together which can be allowed to go as a group, other tourist and guests would be divided into groups of five to be accompanied by one trained guide to limit the number of people in an area.

The said ordinance mandates that all tourism establishment and facilities should require the wearing of face masks, provision of hand washing and sanitizing stations, mandatory one-meter physical distancing between individuals, provision of footbaths and drying pads at entrances, mandatory temperature checking using non-contact thermal scanners, mandatory filling-out of health declaration forms for contact tracing, and the installation of signages showing the minimum health and safety reminders, nearest COVID testing facilities, quarantine facilities, and other relevant information.

With this, any business establishment found to be violating any of the provisions during the effectivity of the ordinance can be fined P1,000 and one-month suspension of the license to operate, subject to the court’s discretion. 

On second offense, a fine of P2,000 and two-month suspension of the license to operate would be meted out on the violator while a fine of P5,000 with the corresponding revocation of business license to operate is given to a third offender, according to the ordinance. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

NOT FOR MASS TOURISM ANYMORE. As Bohol reopens its tourism industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is serious about sustaining its tourism by catering to lesser tourists to be able to implement health and safety protocols. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

THE LESSER, THE BETTER. Bohol's eco-tourism claim can only be boosted when there are measures in place to keep the carrying capacity in mind. For years, the influx of mass tourism has severely affected the environment, that many see the pandemic as another chance for the environment to breathe. Here at Sipatan Hanging Bridge, the absence of tourists has also rested the strain of the bamboo structure. (rahchiu/PIA_7/Bohol)