Tourism Players ready to deal with swine flu

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s tourism sector is well-prepared to deal with the Influenza A H1N1 virus.

“We are pro-active, ready and we closely guarded our boarders”, said DOT Undersecretary Phineas Alburo in a press conference yesterday afternoon at the Maco Polo Plaza Hotel.

He said that at present, conditions in Cebu are normal, but he underscored the importance of check points and strict controls at the ports of entry to assure continuous trust from travelers.

The Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu (HRRAC) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) assured the public that that they are on top of the situation despite the scare of the swine flu.

The HRRAC and the DOT are closely working together in taking the precautionary steps to ensure that the community, as well as the industry, is well-protected from the adverse effects of the virus.

Hans Hauri, general manager of the Marco Polo Plaza and HRRAC Vice President for Hotels, said, “There are no confirmed cases yet of the virus in Cebu, and the aim is to keep it that way.”

As part of the protocol of Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu, it has formed its own crisis team to address the issues and concerns bought about by the swine flu virus.

Action plans have been developed to deal with the any outbreak.

These include procurement or preparation of preventive equipment or supplies required such as masks, thermometers, food covers, disposable gloves, cleaning chemicals and proper communication to guests and associates on the H1N1 movement.

Liquid hand sanitizers and tissue paper in dispensers are also installed in the public areas for use.

Further, Hauri said that they are working hand in hand with a number of partners in the locality that includes airlines, airports and local government units to constantly monitor the movement of H1N1 virus, prevent its entry into the country and to prepare their guests and community members on the steps to be taken for safety measures.

Hauri added, their basic step is “isolate the carrier and restrict the movements.”

“Whether we like it or not, tourism is being affected by this pandemic, which reportedly originated in Mexico. Although there is no confirmation H1N1 has reached our shores yet, tourists are definitely more cautious and travel will most probably slow down. Thus, as key players in this community, the association, working closely with our community leaders, has the responsibility to monitor all tourists and take every measure necessary to keep our people and the industry itself, healthy.” — Johanna Natavio/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)