Cebu City opens its doors to visitors

CEBU City welcomes tourists, including persons coming from the National Capital Region (NCR) and its neighboring provinces.

In fact, the city has been open to non-essential travel and vacation since November 2020, said City Tourism Commissioner Jocelyn Pesquera.

Pesquera reminded visitors to comply with requirements for entry into the city.

Based on Section 3-A of Executive Order 125 issued in March this year, returning residents, private authorized persons outside residence (Apor), non-Apor and persons traveling for leisure and humanitarian reasons must secure a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test from a Department of Health-accredited molecular laboratory taken not more than 72 hours prior to arrival.

For those whose place of origin does not have an RT-PCR test, they must secure certification from the local government unit stating that an RT-PCR test is unavailable and they will be tested upon arrival.

Travelers can avail themselves of the free swab test in the city’s seaport and City Health Department coronavirus disease 2019 clinics upon presenting their travel coordination permit.

If tourists land at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, they must comply with their hotel’s requirements, said Pesquera. But if they’re staying in the cities of Lapu-Lapu or Mandaue and visiting tourist spots in Cebu City, they no longer have to comply.

Pesquera did not have data on the income generated by the tourism industry, but she noted that more events are being held in hotels.

In previous reports, Pesquera said the city’s tourism industry continued to rely on locals. (JJL)