With the easing of quarantine protocols and nearing of Holy Week celebration, the Pangasinan Provincial Tourism, and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) encouraged would-be tourists to register with an online portal to ease contact tracing for those who are infected with the coronavirus.

In an interview on Thursday, PTCAO chief Malu Elduayan said logging is easier and faster in region1.tarana.ph, a website hosted by the Department of Tourism.

Elduayan said local government units (LGUs) are expected to set their requirements and policies for incoming tourists in their areas.

“Kahit mayroong mga sariling registration methods, usually manual, ang mga LGU, hinihikayat natin na magpunta sila sa website upang mas mapabilis ang contact tracing natin (Although the LGUs have their corresponding registration methods, usually manual, we are encouraging tourists to go to the website for faster contact tracing),” she said.

Elduayan said individuals should refrain from walk-in accommodations and instead book their travels before setting out.

She urged tourists to support the services of local tour operators in the province so they would experience first-hand satisfaction and enjoyment.

“This would also benefit our local tour guides,” she added.

Tour guides were one of the most affected since the lockdown imposed in March 2020 because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

With the opening of tourism in the province, Elduayan hopes that industry stakeholders would slowly recover.

Meanwhile, tourists, especially from outside Pangasinan, are still barred from visiting and touring the provincial capitol complex in Lingayen town.

Elduayan said while Pampanga officials and the benchmarking activity were recently visited by individuals from outside the province, it was not considered a ‘leisure’ tour.

She added Governor Amado Espino III and the PTCAO have not yet discussed plans to reopen cottages in the capitol complex. (PNA)