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Promoting a country that is rich in historical and cultural heritage may seem easy but during a pandemic where airlines, hotels, and restaurants remain to cease operations, uplifting the tourism industry is not easily said and done. One can also think that traveling to beaches should be the last priority during a global crisis, but as one of the world’s major economic sectors, it also risks thousands of livelihoods and businesses. So how can one balance health and the economy?
Watch below how Tourism Sectary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat helps the country move forward by prioritizing quality and sustainable tourism:
Tourism Sectary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat succeeds by being firm and proactive on responsible tourism. She first prioritized the question of why people still want to travel, where she learned that in the new normal travel isn’t only for leisure, it also provides mental stability. Puyat then recalibrated the strategy of the DOT towards local tourism with strict and proper implementation of safety protocols that are coordinated with local government units and communicated thoroughly to protect both the tourist and destination.
This in return, reaped many social and economic benefits such as the Philippines receiving the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp which is the world’s first safety and hygiene stamp for travelers to recognize governments and businesses, provided financial assistance to thousands of displaced tourism workers, and overall aided in the safe reopening of many tourist destinations across the country.
A woman who is hands-on with her work and sets realistic goals, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is ensuring no one–neither resident nor tourist alike—gets in harm’s way while saving the economy of the country.
