BI allays fear Chinese visitors still flocking to Boracay despite ban

MANILA, Philippines – There are no more flights that have arrived from China since the travel ban was imposed last Feb. 2 in the wake of the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 n-CoV), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) assured Friday following reports that there are still Chinese tourists arriving on Boracay Island.

Earlier reports say that 78 tourists from mainland China arrived in Boracay on Tuesday (Feb. 4) or two days after President Rodrigo Duterte issued a ban against arrivals from China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau. The residents are worried about how the Chinese tourists have managed to enter the island despite the ban.

READ: Chinese tourists visit Boracay despite ban

“Said Chinese nationals, most probably arrived before the ban, or are among those who are already living or working in the area,” Sandoval said.

She added that the Chinese visitors on the island probably came from other parts of the country but not abroad.

“In fact, most airlines and shipping have already canceled their routes from affected areas…,” she said.