DOT working to ease impact of bloody hostage crisis
Regional Director Edwin Trompeta of the Department of Tourism 6 said actions are now being put in place to mitigate the effects of the hostage-taking incident in Manila, which claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists, to the country’s tourism industry.
Among these are more dialogues with tourism consumers and travel trade in the affected markets, he said.
Trompeta has expressed optimism that “everything will be back to normal” by the end of the year.
Boracay Island, Western Visayas’ major tourist destination, has already felt the backlash of the hostage crisis with a series of cancellations in its hotels and resorts.
From August 23 to 26 alone, 351 cancellations in hotel bookings and reservations have already been reported equivalent to revenue losses of P7.439 million.
The figure represents only room costs, and if possible expenses of tourists on meals, transportation and other expenses are included, the amount could reach P20 million to 30 million.
About 5,000 tourists from Hong Kong and 20,000 from mainland China arrived in Boracay from January to June this year. China and Hong Kong comprise five to 10 percent of Boracay’s tourist arrivals.
Trompeta said the tourism department is also working out an arrangement with hotel and resort owners to mount massive promotional activities that will capture back the lost market.
In Aklan, the provincial government is forming an integrated crises management group to ensure the safety of both foreign and local tourists in Boracay, a report of the Philippine News Agency said.
The group will be composed of representatives from the Provincial Engineer’s Office, Philippine National Police, Dr. Rafael S. Tumbukon Memorial Hospital, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Philippine Army and the media.
“We may not have suitable equipment at present, but if we pool our resources and manpower together, we may be able to come up with a more comprehensive and credible crises management system. I asked all concerned agencies to come up with an integrated crisis management manual,” Gov. Carlito Marquez said.
Based on the discussion, the PEO would provide the heavy transport requirements of the police while doctors, including psychologists, would take part in the negotiations.
“We should be able to make the world know that Boracay is a safe tourist destination,” Marquez said.*