The Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Vicente eyes on opening more tourism options as the country gradually reopens the highly anticipated tourism operations.
Mayor Amy Alvarez, in an interview, said that tourism operations resumed through travel bubble status making travelers from places with low to zero coronavirus cases to visit select destinations in the Philippines particularly Port Barton and Long Beach with little to no COVID-19 cases as well.
Furthermore, Alvarez said that since the outbreak of COVID-19 until now, Port Barton establishments, which are 70/ owned by foreign nationals gradually closed considering that they could not sustain the needs of their operations since travels were restricted for years in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
“So for now, bumabalik pa lang. Meron namang tourists but unlike before that they would stay ng matagal. Ngayon kasi overnight na lang since limited na lang ang establishments na available especially in Port Barton,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said that San Vicente’s tourism spots suffered drastically during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette on December.
She added that Odette badly hit resorts in Port Barton and Long Beach halting tour operations for travelers.
“Back to umpisa. Pero nagri-rebuild pa rin tayo, may relief operations pa rin tayo. Grabe talaga dito. ‘Yung Barton, Poblacion, Kemdeng 80/ affected noong Odette,” Alvarez said.
However, she added that they are under the discussion to open more tourism options in the town such as mountain hiking, camping and trekking which are all inclined to increase tourist numbers,which will contribute to the recovery of their local tourism industry.
“Sa ngayon talaga, we’re still under recovery period. So my plan is to open more options. Siguro sa bundok, puwede tayo mag hiking trail. More options,” Alvarez said.
According to Alvarez, San Vicente eased its travel restrictions to tourist by only requiring them to be fully vaccinated.
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