Lifting of HK’s black travel advisory vs PH seen

HONG KONG might soon lift its black travel advisory. AFP file photo

MANILA, Philippines—After more than a year of talks with Hong Kong officials and travel executives, Philippine tourism officials are optimistic that a black travel advisory against the country would soon be eased or lifted.

“We are seeing the finish line,” Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of a local travel industry conference in Makati City on Wednesday.

The black travel advisory was issued by China’s Special Administrative Region after a bungled bus hostage rescue in August 2010 that resulted in the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has been meeting with the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TICHK), hoping to convince it that tourists are safe in the Philippines.

The TICHK is an influential umbrella organization of travel companies in Hong Kong, the counterpart of the Philippine Tourism Authority and the Philippine Tour Operators Association Inc.

Bengzon said the DOT was optimistic the discussions with the council would bring about “positive results,” adding that they had received 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 said.

The DOT, under its new chief, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., has been working since late last year to bring back Hong Kong’s confidence in Philippine tourism.

A delegation from the DOT flew to Hong Kong in October and presented new tourism products to travel agency leaders in the Special Administrative Region.

The following month, the DOT invited leaders of selected travel agencies in Hong Kong on a familiarization tour of the Philippines.

Bengzon said he would be part of a Philippine tourism delegation flying to Hong Kong on Feb. 16 to continue the discussions.

Hong Kong residents reacted strongly to the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists on Aug. 23, 2010, after a disgruntled Manila police officer, Rolando Mendoza, held a busload of tourists hostage for 10 hours at Rizal Park in a desperate bid to get his job back, which he had lost over allegations of corruption.

The hostage taker was eventually killed by a police sniper but many who had watched the incident live on television felt police bungling of negotiations and rescue operations had led to the deaths. Seven other tourists were wounded.

Hong Kong residents also voiced disappointment over the Philippine government’s failure to take stronger punitive measures against those in charge of the botched rescue, including Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Families of the victims who came to Manila last year to mark the first anniversary of the incident criticized President Aquino for his refusal to meet with them or issue an apology.