Balik Turismo Travel Fair this coming Saturday will surely revive Lapu-Lapu City’s economy, where billions of pesos are already lost due to this pandemic, said Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan during the “Balik Turismo Travel Fair” press conference.
He said the City already spent P850 million for the COVID-19 response, in the purchase of protective equipment, diagnostic testing kits and medical needs of those affected, and providing food for the families of those who got sick and those who lost their jobs during the lockdown.
“The Chan administration has exerted efforts in readying the City and its people in the reopening of its tourism industry,” said Chairperson Cindi King-Chan, Tourism, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (TCHAC).
She said this “Balik Turismo” will jump-start the tourism industry. The slogan is potent with meaning to thousands of their displaced workers in the hospitality industry as it gives them hope for their families to transition to the new normal.
The main part of this Saturday’s Travel Fair is the countdown for the opening of the “virtual sale” or on-line sale, where tourist hub facilities and airlines will offer discounted rates as low as 50 percent or even lower.
To recall preparation for Balik Turismo has already started months.
In August, Cindi’s TCHAC and City Health Office inspected major hotels and resorts to see if they complied with safety and health protocols set by the City and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
Then the City created the “Balik Turismo Taskforce” in September, to ensure the safe transition from GCQ to MGCQ and cautious reopening of the tourism industry.
Then the city conducted PCR tests, Cindi said, to hundreds of boatmen and thousands of tricycle drivers to ensure that they are COVID-free.
As always, according to her, the City will still implement safety protocols of wearing facemasks washing of hands, and social distancing, as these are effective weapons in fighting this pandemic.
And Cindi has a teaser for this Saturday’s Balik Turismo Travel Fair.
“We will be launching a new video during the event and we hope that you will be amazed by the wonders of Lapu-Lapu City which is right at home, very accessible, and waiting to be discovered,” she said. (Lapu-Lapu City PIO)
