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Friday, March 29, 2024

BI: Arrivals still low despite ease of travel rules

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The country’s average daily arrivals has remained consistent at 15,000 despite relaxation of travel restrictions in recent months, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Saturday.

In a Teleradyo interview, Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the recent figures of arrivals were still far from the pre-pandemic average of 45,000 daily.

“Ang totoo niyan malayo pa rin ito sa usual arrivals natin pre-pandemic. Noong 2019, ito ’yung panahon na pinakamataas na bilang ng dumadating sa bansa ang average natin is 45,000 arrivals per day,” Sandoval said.

“Noong summer nakita natin na ’yun ang pinakamataas … Sa obserbasyon natin nitong nakaraang linggo at nag-plateau na to 15,000 arrivals.”

The country’s COVID-19 task force this week approved the of lifting pre-departure novel coronavirus tests for all inbound travelers who were fully vaccinated or had at least one booster shot.

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Only unvaccinated, partially vaccinated travelers, and those without boosters will be required to present negative RT-PCR or laboratory-based antigen test results, according to Malacañang.

Sandoval remained optimistic the number of inbound travelers would further increase under revised travel rules.

“We remain hopeful kahit ganito lang ’yung figures, hindi pa po niya nararating ang pre-pandemic numbers dahil nakita natin na umangat naman ’yung bilang ng mga turista na dumadating sa bansa mula noong dahan-dahan tayong nagluwag sa travel restrictions mula noong Pebrero,” she said.

The country reopened its borders in April to all fully vaccinated foreign travelers in a bid to revive the economy

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