Philippines Re-Opens to Tourist: The Rise of Wellness Tourism Post-Lockdown
PHILIPPINES – The Philippines is now open for COVID 19 vaccinated tourists from around 150 countries that have visa-free entry to the country. No quarantine is required as long as tourists present their proof of vaccination and must be tested negative for COVID 19 upon arrival in the country.
The pandemic brought the biggest dip in modern history, forcing individuals to adapt to major lifestyle changes while the world shifts its focus to taking preventive health measures so that people will not get infected by COVID which loomed the entire world in 2020. Now, people have started to look for ways to help improve their physical health and pay attention to their mental health moving forward, leading to the rise of wellness tourism and health-centered vacations. Places like The Farm at San Benito, CG Hospitality – the hospitality arm of Nepal-based conglomerate CG Corp Global – is a perfect example of this.
“Defining wellness is an active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health” according to the Global Wellness Institute.
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A pioneer and leading medical wellness resort in the Philippines, The Farm has contributed to the country’s medical travel and wellness tourism by bringing in a new stream of travelers such as wellness enthusiasts, health seekers, and conscious consumers to the country for two decades now.
Aside from being an eco-sustainable and socially responsible business, The Farm is internationally known for its various medically-supervised health promotion, disease prevention, immune support programs, and CIGNA Healthcare Insurance accredited medical services.
Nestled amid the foothills of Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines only 90 minutes’ drive away from Manila Airport, the country’s international gateway, The Farm’s proximity to Manila makes it an ideal sanctuary to local and international travelers. Its private spaces assure guests that they can enjoy a clean, COVID-free environment while providing fresh, breathtaking sceneries of mother nature.
The Farm maintains its status as a COVID-free safe haven and healing environment throughout its operations since reopening in May 2020 by following a multi-modal approach against COVID-19 to protect guests and employees at all times. It has set up its onsite COVID testing center (RT-PCR and antigen nasal swab tests) administered by medical doctors and licensed health professionals. In addition, the employees are required to undergo Covid testing regularly. The Farm also offers ichroma™️ II immuno-analyzer diagnostic machine which determines the level of antibodies against COVID. All facilities at The Farm are sanitized by Sanivir Smoke Disinfectant, which is proven by international laboratories to effectively eliminate all types of virus including coronavirus on surfaces and in the air effectively. The Farm is also the first in the country to use BetterAir solution that disperses environmental probiotics in all its enclosed spaces to create a clean, pathogen- and allergen-free healthy indoor environment. With all these safety measures in place, The Farm was certified by the Healing Hotels of the World in Germany with a Healing Certificate recognizing the highest excellence in safety and sanitation protocols and its commitment to healing on a holistic level. The Farm also received a Safety Seal from the Philippine Department of Tourism and Safe Travels from the World Tourism Council.
The Farm has also become a favorite destination for wellness workation, where wellness, work, and vacation meet. Having successfully pioneered wellness workation in the country it is possible to continue “work from home” in the middle of nature while having access to strong WiFi connection and IT support while immersing in wellbeing & transformative experiences. A-list celebrities, CEOs, business owners and entrepreneurs have already experienced this concept of wellness workation, some of whom have stayed for a minimum of 1 month to over a year, taking advantage of a safe, peaceful, private location that is naturally conducive to work and wellbeing.
As part of the holistic approach to wellness, The Farm ensures guests enjoy nourishing superfoods to increase productivity and mental clarity that will help them work more efficiently. The Farm’s wellness cuisines—vegan, vegetarian, and pescetarian are essential components of the healing food concept which advocates plant-based, locally sourced, organically-grown, and farm-to-table philosophy. The Farm’s selection of wellness cuisine aims to promote gut health, vital energy, and longevity of life. Guests can choose from 3 wellness restaurants.
Embracing the concept of farm to table, ALIVE! Restaurant offers fresh, vegan cuisine, eco-friendly food, and home-grown produce that promotes detoxification and gut health. This award-winning restaurant practices innovative food preparations and serves delicious and innovative vegan dishes using organic ingredients to provide the body with all nutrients and antioxidants it needs.
PRANA is The Farm’s newest wellness cuisine influenced by the Ayurveda concept which has been around for thousands of years. It is the Sanskrit word for breath, life force, or vital energy. It offers Indian vegetarian dishes bursting with vital life energy by incorporating herbs and spices.
PESCE is The Farm’s pescetarian restaurant taking inspiration from the Mediterranean Blue Zone® diet. Named after the Italian word for fish, PESCE offers pescetarian dishes focusing on health and the longevity of life. The menu consists of consciously-cultivated organic living foods, like whole grains, fruits vegetables, and wild-caught fish as a source of protein for a more complete source of nutrients that the body needs. Blue Zones® are longevity hotspots around the world that reflect the lifestyle and the environment of the world’s longest-lived people.
The Farm at San Benito’s holistic medical wellness center is led by Medical Director and Holistic Cancer Care Specialist, Dr. Homer Lim together with integrative doctors specializing in Preventive, Lifestyle, Functional, Naturopathic, and Holistic Medicine supported by a team of licensed health professionals from nurses, colon hydrotherapists, physical therapists, aesthetic therapists, and dental hygienist, spa therapists, yoga teachers, fitness coach, living foods chef and sound healer to help guests lead a healthier lifestyle during their journey to optimal well-being.
The Farm is a pioneer in the country for introducing IMMUNE SUPPORT PROGRAM which includes COVID testing, medically-supervised holistic treatments to support the immune system, nutrient-rich organic vegan meals and beverages, microbiome nourishment, mindful movements, and more. Like other holistic programs, it includes psycho-emotional sessions that attend to the guests’ mental health and emotional state – two things that can be severely affected as people feel isolated while following quarantine protocols.
A certain population of people who developed COVID-19 infections may suffer from “Post-Covid Syndrome” that can last up to 6 months from infection. This is characterized by persistent symptoms that may include fatigue, mental fog, cough, loss of taste and smell, fatigue, occasional difficulty breathing, muscle & joint pains as well as digestive issues.
To address this, The Farm’s team of medical experts have come up with a POST-COVID RECOVERY PROGRAM which includes Covid testing, Daily Nutrient-Rich Organic Vegan Meals and Detox Juice, Holistic Consultation, Brain Biofeedback, Live Blood Analysis, Colon Cleansing, Acupuncture, Vitamin Infusion, Liver Compress, Energy Healing, Immuno Cell Renewal, Steam Therapy, Ozone Therapy, Sustainable Program Discussion, with daily complimentary mindful and functional fitness activities such as yoga, mandala flower meditation, sound healing, power walk, wellness talks and more.
The Farm also partnered with Living Life Well Medical Group offering Cigna Global Healthcare-accredited services and treatments for pain and mental health problems – health issues that are prevalent during a pandemic. The PAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, which focuses on work-related diseases and chronic pain, helps with the symptoms while addressing the root cause of the problem.
On the other hand, The Farm’s MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM helps with work-related depression, stress, and anxiety. Programs are carefully planned and conducted by internationally trained integrative medical doctors and mental health experts. Other science-based, evidence-guided, medically supervised programs include Holistic Detox Cleanse, Weight Management, Diabetes Prevention, and Heart Health Program, Holistic Cancer Care, Sleep Induction, Postnatal Wellness, Hormone Regulation, Smoking Cessation, Beauty & Longevity, and more.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Sanvictores
Director of Global Marketing & Brand Development – CG Hospitality
Director of Sales and Marketing – The Farm at San Benito
Email: dosm@thefarm.com.ph