Resorts and other tourism establishments in the province of Iloilo will be closed beginning tomorrow, May 22, until May 31 to contain the surge of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, cases.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) 163 yesterday afternoon which contains the adjusted community quarantine measures for the food service industry, and the suspension of operations for tourism, recreation and accommodation establishments.

The EO stated that operation of facilities in tourism, recreation and accommodation establishments will be suspended for 10 days:

“The operation/use of facilities/venues/ areas for recreation and leisure (such as swimming pools, cottages, beaches, playgrounds, game rooms, function rooms, dining halls, food stations, bars and dance halls) of tourism, recreation and accommodation establishments (such as beach resorts, inland resorts, water parks, amusement parks, ecological parks, hotels, tourist inns, motels, pension houses, apartment hotels, private homes used for homestay, ecolodges, serviced apartments, condotels, and bed and breakfast establishments) under Section 7, paragraph (a.) (i.) and paragraph (b.) (i.) of Executive Order No. 155, Series of 2021 (EO 155), shall be suspended from 22 May 2021 to 31 May 2021.”

But these tourism establishments may continue to provide basic board and lodging services to authorized persons outside of their residences, returning overseas Filipinos and other returning residents.

Swimming in public beaches and inland waters will also be prohibited./WDJ