Philippine Tourism Reels From Hostage Backlash

Philippine tourism is suffering backlash after the Hong Kong government announced a travel ban to the archipelago following last month’s bus hijack in Manila that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

The foreign tourists were on their way to the airport Aug. 23 on their last day in the country when an armed ex-policeman demanding reinstatement seized the bus along historic Rizal Park.

Authorities failed to negotiate a peaceful resolution for the almost 12-hour crisis, resulting in an assault by a police rescue team during which the suspect was killed. Eight of the tourists also died.

The Security Bureau of Hong Kong immediately ordered its citizens to avoid travel to the Philippines, citing safety concerns. China and Hong Kong account for some 5 to 10 percent of leading tourist arrivals in the world-famed island resort of Boracay, where some of its hotels and diving sites are rated as among the best globally.

As a result of the travel ban, the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Western Visayas regional office reported that owners of resorts, hotels and restaurants in Boracay are now reeling from losses due to cancellation of several bookings from Chinese tourists.

DOT regional director Edwin G. Trompeta initially reported some $165,827 (7.439 million pesos) in lost revenue from hotel bookings in Boracay by 351 individuals for the period Aug. 28 to Sept. 6. The amount of losses may still increase, considering tourist spending impact and its multiplier effects, explained Trompeta. Statistics show some 20,000 tourists from mainland China and 5,000 from Hong Kong visited Boracay from January to June this year.

Sourced=gantdaily