After two long years of pandemic lockdowns of businesses including hotels, resorts and other tourism establishments in the country, this is now the time to have the revenge tourism. Hotels and resorts are now gaining back the momentum of guests coming in.
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All parts of the country were hit by the pandemic and now is the time to bounce back. It can be recalled that during the height of the pandemic, a lot of Zoom meetings and virtual activities were initiated by the Department of Tourism (DOT). Yes, it was a good move at that time.
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As the country is nearing back to normalcy, Zoom meetings which could not make significant economic gains must be partly laid on the side. Activities and events like tourism travels, tourism trade fairs, tours, and other travel-inspired undertakings must be the priority now. In the case of Western Visayas, the DOT regional office must now be supportive of activities being spearheaded by travel agencies and tourism event organizers that will show economic earnings for hotels, resorts, restaurants, tourism transport groups, tour guides, and M.I.C.E. organizers.
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“The Zoom meetings were simply to put travel stakeholders into a continued communication on their respective businesses. What is important now is for stakeholders to earn money after all the losses incurred for the two years they have not operated,” said a seasoned hotelier.
“We are hoping that the DOT inspires us with its financial support to our promotions and gimmicks that will bring in more clients [for us] to recover,” shared a property manager.
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The comments of these personalities regarding travel are indeed a simple reminder that the government agencies have to raise their arms and muscles to help the economic scenario of tourism and travel. While many hotels and resorts have surely taken the sacrifice of financial losses, inspiring them with the support of the DOT will surely bring that long lost smiles in the faces of the investors and owners, more so the workers who have lost a great deal.
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“We are sure that the Department of Tourism regional office in Western Visayas will be able to feel the pulse of the tourism stakeholders in the region,” stated a tourism expert./WDJ