Philippines to attract other tourists if Chinese stop coming

Secretary Edwin Lacierda. Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will just have to look for tourists from other parts of the world if it is true Chinese authorities have suspended tourist travel to the country, Malacañang said on Friday.

Edwin Lacierda, President Benigno Aquino’s spokesperson, said Malacañang has yet to receive official word from the Department of Tourism that the Chinese have indeed suspended tourist travel by Chinese nationals to the Philippines.

“If it is true… then we will just have to work harder on the other markets,” Lacierda said at Friday’s regular news briefing at Malacañang.

Lacierda also assured the safety of Chinese citizens in the country in the face of scheduled demonstrations  against Chinese incursions into Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

He said the protests were the initiative of private groups and the Philippine government had no hand in them but he pointed out that freedom of expression was guaranteed under the Constitution.