ver a month after the Aug. 23 hostage-taking tragedy where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed, China’s top diplomat to Manila encouraged the Philippine government to work on improving safety and security to continue attracting more Chinese tourists into the country. Ambassador Liu Jianchao cited some 50 million tourists from mainland China have traveled to other countries, including the Philippines with its scenic beaches and diverse marine life, saying the Southeast Asian country can benefit from this growing Chinese tourist market.
“I believe that the Philippine government will take measures to convince the tourists from China including Hong Kong that this is a safe country to travel to, and when they are here, they will be well protected," Liu said in his keynote speech at a business forum in Makati.
Liu’s statement came on the same day President Benigno Aquino III announced that seven government officials were liable for the bloody conclusion to the hostage-taking incident.
On Aug. 23, dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tour bus carrying 25 people, 20 of whom were tourists from Hong Kong. He demanded that he be reinstated into service. The 11-hour hostage drama ended with the deaths of eight tourists and Mendoza himself. The Hong Kong government issued a “black" travel alert for the Philippines discouraging all forms of travel to the country. During the two weeks after the incident the Philippines lost about P40 million in tourist revenue. — With Jerrie Abella/VS
