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DFA urges Pinoy travelers to hold off Holy Land visit

Philippines | National

DFA urges Pinoy travelers to hold off Holy Land visit

By Betheena Unite

Travelers were advised to hold off their leisure trips to the Holy Land amid hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

De Vega.jpg — DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega (Photo courtesy of PCO)

While the Holy Land sites are not the areas in conflict, it is not normal to visit a country that is under a state of war, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said.

“We haven’t put a travel ban on Israel. But our embassy has issued a travel advisory, so as much as possible, avoid traveling right now,” De Vega said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

De Vega clarified that they are not preventing travelers from going but encouraging them to postpone their trips in the meantime.

“We’re not telling you not to go but we’re advising you that it’s best, if possible, to postpone them until we’re absolutely sure that the hostilities have ended because after all, even the Prime Minister of Israel has said that they` are in a state of war. So, it’s not normal for somebody to want to visit the country which is in a state of war,” he said.

De Vera said holding off such leisure trips would help avoid future problems as he mentioned that there were Filipinos who had a problem with their flight out from Israel but eventually were able to get back to the Philippines before succeeding flights were canceled.

Citing the security situation, several airlines in Asia have canceled their flights to Tel Aviv, including Hainan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Korean Air. Other leading international air carriers have followed suit.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel has also recommended the suspension of travel to Israel.

It has issued a travel advisory suggesting "that all travel from the Philippines to Israel be postponed indefinitely, or until such time that the situation has stabilized."

READ MORE: PH embassy recommends travel suspension to Israel

Related Tags

Israel HOLY LAND filipino travelers Eduardo De Vega

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