LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines —The Bicol region is projected to lose P6 billion in revenue as the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cripples tourism, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said. Benjamin Santiago, director of DOT Bicol, said that during the summer season, from March to May, the region usually caters to three million domestic and 500,000 foreign tourists. ADVERTISEMENTBut due to the spread of the dreaded virus, most of the local government units in Bicol have implemented a 14-day mandatory quarantine for individuals who traveled from Metro Manila and other regions with confirmed COVID-19 cases. “Tourists flock in the summer season, especially during the Holy Week. Santiago said there are at least seven million direct and indirect employees in the tourism industry in the region.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 15, 2020 21:45 UTC