Tourism shops urged to get accreditation

CEBU, Philippines — Tourism establishments that have not yet been accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) are encouraged to grab this opportunity to work for its accreditation soon, following the extension of the initiative to waive fees.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco sees that the move will assist tourism enterprises in their recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOT MC 2022-001 or the Revised Interim Guidelines Governing Applications for Accreditation during The State of Calamity Due to COVID-19 is anchored on the Presidential Proclamation No. 57 s. 2022 which further extended the period of state of calamity in the Philippines until 31 December 2022.

Aside from the waived accreditation fees, the DOT MC 2022-001 contains salient points that were aligned by the department with the issuances of the national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) including the streamlining of documentary requirements for accreditation as well as the conduct of virtual inspections in lieu of physical inspections.

“While the proclamation on the period of state calamity in the country has ended, we at the DOT discern the need to continue, for as long as essential, measures that will support our stakeholders in their process of recouping the devastating losses incurred in the almost three years that the tourism industry was brought to a standstill due to the pandemic,” Frasco said.

Pertinent updates were already made to some of the provisions in the Memorandum Circular that the department released almost a year ago.

By next month, the DOT also targets the resumption of new applications for Star Rating and Premium Accreditation which was suspended under Section 6 under the memorandum circular.

Meanwhile, as applications for Basic Registration will remain discontinued, the DOT encourages enterprises with expiring Basic Registration to instead apply for a Regular Accreditation.

Tourism establishments may apply for accreditation online through the DOT’s Online Accreditation System: https://Accreditation.tourism.gov.ph/login. (FREEMAN)