BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The tourism sector in Negros Occidental is showing signs of recovery two years after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restricted the movement of tourists and forced the closure of many tourist destinations and tourism-related businesses.
Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena said most of the province’s tourism establishments have resumed full operations.
Other establishments, meanwhile, will resume operations as soon as they complete the training of their personnel to equip them better in handling guests while the pandemic is still around.
Even though the provincial government has restarted enticing tourists, Decena said it is making sure that the carrying capacity and minimum health protocols are followed to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases.
She also said a lot of cafés and small restaurants have popped up.
The provincial tourism chief was elated with such development, pointing out that this would further help generate employment among those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Decena urged operators of cafés and restaurants to be accredited with the Department of Tourism during the Provincial Tourism Office’s Lakbayanihan Tourism Fair at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central from May 16 to 29.
Just this April 20, the provincial government-owned Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Barangay Minuyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental reopened to the public.
Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, however, said the resort is limited to daytime travelers only until April 30.
By May 1, though, the resort will resume accepting overnight stays.
The old rates will still be imposed. Diaz said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is yet to approve the corrections made by the Provincial Legal Office on the proposed new and higher rates.
Facilities in the resort which include the swimming pools, dipping pools and the boating lagoon, among others, are available for everyone to enjoy, according to Diaz.
The resort also has function rooms and a convention center for large gatherings.
Diaz said they accept online payments for reservations either via GCash, credit cards, and other electronic and digital payments.
Visitors are also required to be fully-vaccinated./PN
