Jessa Pabroquez Ponce

BSTM-THSM 1A

1.) Discuss the National Tourism Development Plan 2016 – 2022 of the Department
of Tourism.

NTDP 2016-2022 envisions to: Develop a globally competitive, environmentally

sustainable and socially responsible tourism industry that promotes inclusive
growth through employment generation and equitable distribution of income
thereby contributing to building a foundation for a high-trust society.

2.)Elaborate the health and safety guidelines governing the operations of

accommodation establishments under the new normal under Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or
the Bayanihan To Heal as One Act.

DOT issues guidelines defining ‘new normal’ for

accommodation establishments

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has released the Health and Safety Guidelines
Governing the Operations of Accommodation Establishments under the New Normal,
indicating quite a number of significant changes in the country’s frontline tourist
services.

DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2020-002 signed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette

Romulo-Puyat on Friday, pursuant to Republic Act 11469 or Bayanihan to Heal As One
Act and RA 6593 or Tourism Act of 2009, cites the need to provide guidelines to
institutionalize updated health and safety protocols in the operations of accommodation
establishments under the New Normal Scenario.

“We assure our stakeholders that the DOT Guidelines will prove responsive to the
needed changes brought about by this pandemic,” said the DOT chief.

Puyat issued the memorandum circular days after she presented to the Senate of
Committee of the Whole the preparations and response measures being mapped out by
the DOT to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on public health and spur
economic recovery.

“The tourism sector, with the support of the government, will recover and resume once
travel restrictions have been lifted following the safety protocols and measures for the
new normal in travel,” Puyat said.
The Inter–Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases
defines the “New Normal” as emerging behaviors, situations, and minimum public health
standards that will be institutionalized in common or routine practices and remain even
after the pandemic while the disease is not totally eradicated.

The comprehensive Guidelines provide for the operations of accommodation

establishments (AEs) in the areas of Guest Handling; Reception and Concierge; Rooms
and Housekeeping; Food and Beverage Service; Kitchen Sanitation and Disinfection;
Public Areas; Hotel and Transport Service; Engineering and Maintenance Service;
Business Practices and Management; and Suppliers of Goods and Services.

Under Section 5, Guest Handling Policy, the establishment is required: 1) To have the
guests complete a Health Declaration Form upon check-in; 2) to encourage online
payment upon booking; and 3) to conduct body temperature checking using a thermal
scanner at the hotel entrances shall be undertaken for all guests by qualified health or
medical staff or trained hotel personnel.

Only guests cleared during screening shall be allowed to enter the hotel perimeter to
check-in.

Section 5 further states that guests must be provided with reminder cards, which may
include the following: 1) No sharing of food or any personal or non-personal belongings;
2) Proper disposal of used PPE; 3) Mingling with occupants of other rooms are not
encouraged; 4) Practice of proper handwashing etiquette/hand hygiene, respiratory
etiquette, and proper use of face mask; and 5) Strict observance of Physical Distancing.

DOT issues guidelines defining ‘new normal’ for accommodation establishments

By: INQUIRER.net BrandRoom - 12 months ago

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has released the Health and Safety Guidelines
Governing the Operations of Accommodation Establishments under the New Normal,
indicating quite a number of significant changes in the country’s frontline tourist
services.

DOT Memorandum Circular No. 2020-002 signed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette

Romulo-Puyat on Friday, pursuant to Republic Act 11469 or Bayanihan to Heal As One
Act and RA 6593 or Tourism Act of 2009, cites the need to provide guidelines to
institutionalize updated health and safety protocols in the operations of accommodation
establishments under the New Normal Scenario.
“We assure our stakeholders that the DOT Guidelines will prove responsive to the
needed changes brought about by this pandemic,” said the DOT chief.

Puyat issued the memorandum circular days after she presented to the Senate of
Committee of the Whole the preparations and response measures being mapped out by
the DOT to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on public health and spur
economic recovery.

“The tourism sector, with the support of the government, will recover and resume once
travel restrictions have been lifted following the safety protocols and measures for the
new normal in travel,” Puyat said.

The Inter–Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases
defines the “New Normal” as emerging behaviors, situations, and minimum public health
standards that will be institutionalized in common or routine practices and remain even
after the pandemic while the disease is not totally eradicated.

The comprehensive Guidelines provide for the operations of accommodation

establishments (AEs) in the areas of Guest Handling; Reception and Concierge; Rooms
and Housekeeping; Food and Beverage Service; Kitchen Sanitation and Disinfection;
Public Areas; Hotel and Transport Service; Engineering and Maintenance Service;
Business Practices and Management; and Suppliers of Goods and Services.

Under Section 5, Guest Handling Policy, the establishment is required: 1) To have the
guests complete a Health Declaration Form upon check-in; 2) to encourage online
payment upon booking; and 3) to conduct body temperature checking using a thermal
scanner at the hotel entrances shall be undertaken for all guests by qualified health or
medical staff or trained hotel personnel.

Only guests cleared during screening shall be allowed to enter the hotel perimeter to
check-in.

Section 5 further states that guests must be provided with reminder cards, which may
include the following: 1) No sharing of food or any personal or non-personal belongings;
2) Proper disposal of used PPE; 3) Mingling with occupants of other rooms are not
encouraged; 4) Practice of proper handwashing etiquette/hand hygiene, respiratory
etiquette, and proper use of face mask; and 5) Strict observance of Physical Distancing.

Among the other highlights of the Guidelines include: Precautionary measures on

physical distancing, hand cleaning, and respiratory etiquette must be strictly observed;
wearing of masks by front desk personnel attending to guests; use of disposable gloves
when handling cash or documents, and/or materials that are passed from person to
person.

For the reception or front desk officer, hand-shaking is not advised instead the practice
of the Filipino Brand of Service (FBS) or the “Mabuhay” gesture in greeting guests, as
well as other forms of contactless greeting, is encouraged.

Only single up to double room occupancy is allowed. Couples or family members who
share the same household may be allowed in double or twin occupancy rooms. A
distance of 1-2 meters between the beds is highly encouraged.

Section 15 of the Guidelines also lists the measures that must be complied within the
management of symptomatic guests, among them: 1) Create a holding area for
symptomatic guests; 2) Immediately refer symptomatic guests to the nearest hospital; 3)
Assure guests of assistance in case they begin to manifest symptoms such as fever
and/or cough; 4) Keep the symptomatic guest confined in the room originally used until
trained transport providers are available to transport him or her to designated referral
hospital.

The staff must immediately inform the doctor on duty or the emergency response team
for assistance for coordination to the referral hospital or the Barangay Health Emergency
Response Team (BHERT) for assessment if any staff is concerned about the condition of
a guest, or if a guest requests access to medical services.

The Section also reminds the staff and personnel to avoid employing any discriminatory
action against any sick person with high fever and cough for fear of contracting or
spreading the disease.

For Accommodation Establishments in areas declared to be under a Community

Quarantine, Administrative Order No. 2020-002 or the Community Quarantine Guidelines
for Hotel Operations shall primarily govern, and the New Normal Health and Safety
Guidelines shall apply in a suppletory character.