Better tourism- ties between RP- China seen after hostage crisis

Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office admitted that the recent Quirino Grandstand hostage standoff could have a negative impact on Philippine tourism but expressed optimism that it would soon change for the better.

Coloma pointed out to Malacanang reporters that based on DOT Secretary Alberto Lim's assessment of the incident, it may lead to a reduction of the volume of tourist arrivals from Hongkong by at least 10 percent.

However, he said that the government is hoping that the investigation would soon wind down and that we would be able to present the results to the Hongkong Special Administrative Region and China so that there would be a better understanding on both sides of what happened. Hopefully there will be space and time for good friendship to be rebuilt and strengthened.

"So, umaasa pa rin tayo na sa darating na mga araw ay magkakaroon po ng paglilinaw sa tunay na kaganapan at kapag nakita na po ang liwanag hinggil dyan ay umaliwas din po ang outlook for the future in terms of visits from China and from Hongkong, pati rin po yung pagpunte ng mga Filipino sa China at Hongkong."

On the barrage of public criticisms that have kept on pouring into the government website in view of the hostage crisis, Coloma said President Benigno Aquino III accepts them but admits the lapses made by government but with the resolve to overcome these lapses and improve the process of governance.

Coloma said that through the website "we want to know the real sentiments of the people because that is a way of gaining a better understanding of their feelings and their aspirations."

Sourced=pia