DOT: HK travel ban vs. PH to be lifted soon

Monday, 13 February 2012 17:20 Janvic Mateo

Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr. recently said that they are optimistic that the black travel advisory issued by Hong Kong against the Philippines would soon be lifted, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

According to Bengzon, the DOT sent delegations to meet with several Hong Kong officials and travel executives to convince them that the country is safe for tourists. He added the the tourism department believes that the discussions would yield “positive results,” citing information that Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang was looking at either lifting or downgrading the black travel advisory.

“[Tsang] is stepping down this year, but according to the information we got, he’s looking at downgrading or lifting the travel ban before he steps down,” Bengzon was quoted saying in the Inquirer article.

The black travel alert cautions against all travel to countries with severe threats. The warning against the Philippines was issued following the death of eight Hong Kong citizens in the 10-hour hostage crisis in Quirino Grandstand back in August 23, 2010.

Hostage crisis backlash

The Philippine government was heavily criticized because of the way Manila police handled the incident. An investigation led by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima resulted in the recommendation of filing administrative and criminal charges against 15 individuals including Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Lim, however, escaped criminal prosecution following President Benigno Aquino III's decision not to uphold the panel's recommendation. The mayor was instead charged with an administrative case.

A five-member Hong Kong jury, meanwhile, found that the victims of the hostage crisis were unlawfully killed. While the findings do not ascribe criminal or civil liabily, they criticized Philippine officials for their slow response in handling the situation.

DOT recently revealed that the number of tourists from Hong Kong evidently decreased following the issuance of the travel alert. The department, however, added that the number of tourists are now gradually increasing.

Last year, Sun Star reported that travel agents based in Hong Kong asked their government to lift or at least downgrade the travel warning.

Aside from the Philippines, Hong Kong's security bureau also issued a black travel alert against Syria which is currently under civil unrest.

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