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Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat: We want to make it safe and fun in the Philippines.

DOT Sec. Puyat recalls how tourism's share to GDP plunged to 5.4% in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2019, it was 12.8%. bit.ly/3E6UO5R

DOT Sec. Puyat says 5.72 million were employed in the tourism sector in 2019. This figure fell to 4.68 million last year.

DOT Sec. Puyat says they're pushing for domestic tourism: Unlike other countries, we're more reliant on it.

DOT Sec. Puyat: We find more people travelling around the country but the Delta variant stopped this.

DOT Sec. Puyat says they're currently inoculating tourism workers: We're hoping that when they're fully vaccinated, new variants coming in won't stop tourism.

DOT Sec. Puyat on inoculation of tourism workers in NCR: We've vaccinated 99% of those working in hotels. If we count those working in restaurants, tour operators and guides, we've already vaccinated 90% in NCR.

DOT Sec. Puyat says they've kicked off vaccination efforts in major tourism destinations like Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Siargao.

DOT Sec. Puyat cites quarantine as a concern among travelers: Nobody will want to travel here if they have to quarantine for 7-14 days.

DOT Sec. Puyat: We're aggressively vaccinating our tourism workers not only to protect travelers but them as well.

UP Asian Institute of Tourism Director Ramon Alampay on the tourism industry's recovery: Many of the big factors aren't in its control. It's really the pandemic response.

UP AIT's Alampay: We need to vaccinate, make sure our communities are safe. That's what will bring tourists' confidence back.

UP AIT's Alampay on DOT's vaccination of tourism workers: Most of the destinations they're prioritizing are international ones. The key is to have our domestic destinations opened up to regional users.

UP AIT's Alampay: A large majority of our enterprises are outside those main destinations: workers, small businesses most affected are outside those international hubs.

UP AIT's Alampay on assistance for tourism-related businesses: The immediate priority should be outside the international destinations.

UP AIT's Alampay: The focus has been on traditional tourism: overnight travel. There's a lot of opportunity among day visits, excursions, outdoor recreations. Those activities can stimulate small firms.

Cavite Provincial Tourism & Cultural Affairs Office head Rozelle Sangalang recalls how their tourism industry grappled with the Taal volcanic eruption and the onset of COVID-19 last year.

Cavite PTCAO recalls how the province's same-day and overnight tourist count fell by 80.49% to 1.9 million last year from the 5-year high of 10 million in 2019.

Cavite PTCAO says they have tallied ony about 700,000 same-day and overnight tourists so far.

Cavite PTCAO emphasizes need to conduct image rebuilding campaigns, reinforce tourism governance, monitor tourism enterprises in partnership with LGUs and national agencies.

Cavite PTCAO: We have to mitigate losses as well. On top of nat'l stimulus packages, the Cavite government offered activity sponsorships, training for displaced tourism workers.