The Philippine Online Chronicles

“I’m not sure where he got that info,” said Tourism Assistant Secretary Bong Benzon said after news came out that US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said that at least 40% of male tourists come to the country for “sexual tourism.”

“I estimate that maybe up to 40 percent of foreign men who come here come for sexual tourism and that is unacceptable,” Thomas said during a roundtable discussion about human trafficking.

Bengzon, meanwhile said, “Research material of the [Tourism Department] show that the main motivation is different. Our visitors come her for shopping, sight-seeing and adventure. Sixty-six percent of our visitors have shopping as their main activity, followed by sight-seeing. Definitely, sex tourism is not part of our program thrust. Ambassador Thomas’ statement has no basis. The Philippines is a very wholesome destination.”

According to Manila Standard Today, Thomas’ quote “was a departure from the prepared remarks posted on the US Embassy Web site, where Thomas urged the justices to use their findings to strengthen the country’s law against human trafficking.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that while they cannot deny that sexual tourism is happening in the country, the government is doing everything to curb the problem, as well as human trafficking.

She also said that the US State Department can help by upgrading the country’s status from their watchlist.

Meanwhile, former tourism secretary Richard Gordon said that cyber criminals promoting the Philippines as a “sex destination” has become more efficient than the government.

“We do not have a positive image. We do not have an image at all,” he said, adding that the Aquino administration had failed to promote a wholesome image for the Philippines.

According to Philippine Star, the Department of Tourism revealed that annual tourist arrivals in the Philippines was only at 3.3 million, way below Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. DOT accreditation division chief Socorro Caraig said Malaysia’s annual tourist arrivals is at 25 million.