Ailing travel sector calls for government subsidy

CEBU, Philippines — Travel and tour operators are asking the government to extend help to the surviving companies at least by subsidizing some of its workers’ medical and healthcare needs.

Travel agency owner Desiree “Cookie” Chan made this pronouncement during the recently concluded Tourism Coffee Table discussion hosted by the Cebu Business Month (CBM 2021) tourism committee team.

Chan, who manages the family-owned Southwind Travel and Tours, said while tourism took a downward spiral since last year, some travel and tour companies in Cebu have managed to stay alive, but they are in dire need for help, particularly in providing their workers’ with right medical and health protection.

Chan’s statement echoes other tourism group of stakeholders specifically the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), which is already now working with local government units (LGUs) in Metro Cebu in its appeal for tax relief to prevent hotels and resorts from succumbing to bankruptcy.

“We are in financial distress,” Chan said that this dismal situation is making it harder for the travel and tour sector to survive.

In fact, since the start of COVID-19 last year, most travel and tour firms in Cebu have temporarily shut down. Until now, some have yet to re-open, or ultimately bid the industry goodbye.

Some firms however, like hers, have relocated their offices to their homes if not, ceased to operate at all, due to the slump in the market demand for both inbound and outbound guests and uncertainty of travel recovery. 

Aside from severe a dried up market because of flights’ unavailability, Chan also blamed the inadequate market intelligence support from concerned government agencies.

For the industry to stay above waters in these trying times, Chan appealed to the government, particularly the Department of Tourism (DOT) to set clearer policies with a timeline or for a relevant forecast to guide tour and travel stakeholders and make sound decision and draw out action plans.

She added that market intelligence includes providing travel and tour operators with updated statistics such as the study of the fully vaccinated market, among others.