The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed on Friday the new protocols set for foreigners who are allowed to enter the Philippines, as the travel ban on passengers coming from countries with reported cases of the new coronavirus variant lapses on Feb. 1.

“We are happy that the borders are open again to our Balikbayans whose travel plans to rejoin their families in the country starting December 07, 2020 were curtailed with the travel ban on passengers from the new Covid variant countries,” Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Friday.

“Now, they can replan their visits, notably as more local destinations have reopened,” she added.

Effective Feb. 1, 2021, with the lifting of travel restrictions on Covid-19 new variant countries, some foreigners will be re-allowed to enter but subject to the following conditions:

a) they must have a valid and existing visa at the time of entry, except for those qualified under the Balikbayan program;

b) they must have pre-booked accommodation for at least seven nights in an accredited quarantine hotel/facility;

c) they must undergo Covid-19 testing at the quarantine hotel/facility on the sixth day from the date of arrival;

d) they are subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry;

READ: PH sets new conditions for foreigners’ entry

Under the resolution, the DOT was also tasked to look into the rates of the quarantine hotels.

“Ever since the beginning, the list of participating DOT-accredited accommodation establishments reflects the indicative rates so that the passenger can manage his budget, now even so, to consider a minimum seven or maximum 14 day-quarantine period. We ask hotels to give good rates to help lessen the burden,” Romulo-Puyat said.

The agency, meanwhile, vowed to monitor the strict implementation of minimum health and safety guidelines in accredited tourism enterprises, particularly hotels repurposed as quarantine facilities or those that have reopened to operate for staycation purposes. (PNA)