Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A top-level black outbound travel alert for the Philippines was raised in the wake of yesterday's bloodshed, forcing all tours to the country to be called off.
Travel agencies said the incident will deal a major blow to Philippine tourism. Last night, the Hong Kong government raised the Philippines travel alert from amber to black.
"A serious kidnapping incident happened in the Philippines. Residents should avoid all travel to the country; those who are already there should attend to their personal safety and exercise caution," the government statement said.
Under a black alert - the highest level in the three-tier Outbound Travel Alert System - Hongkongers are advised to avoid all travel because of a "severe threat."
The government said it called on all Hong Kong tour members in the Philippines to return home as soon as possible.
Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung said 80 holidaymakers from four tours - three from Hong Thai Travel and the other from Smart Holiday - will return to Hong Kong by Thursday.
Nine Philippines-bound tours involving about 150 clients scheduled to depart between today and September 8 will be called off, he said.
"We are furious," Tung said.
"There had been a decline in Philippines-bound tours even before this tragedy, as the destination has lost its appeal to many Hongkongers."
Miramar Travel general manager Alex Lee Chun-ting said: "It is horrible - much worse than the Thai unrest earlier this year. The Red-Shirt protesters had no intention to disturb tourists, but this killer targeted holidaymakers, who are all innocent."
"The incident will knock Hongkongers' confidence in visiting the Philippines," Lee said, adding no tour members from his agency were in the Philippines last night.
Wing On Travel assistant general manager Simon Ma Sai-man said a tour involving 19 clients bound for Manila scheduled to depart on Friday will be canceled.
"I think Hong Kong people will avoid going there in the near future," he said. "The incident was scary."
The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan was gravely concerned about, and deeply saddened by, the Manila hostage incident.
It said Lau had decided to cut short her current official visit in Europe and return to Hong Kong immediately to assist in handling the case.
