By Marjaleen Ramos
The stream of Chinese nationals arriving in the Philippines has slowed down amid the threat of the novel coronavirus (nCoV), the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday.
Passengers wearing face masks who arrived from Guangzhou, China lineup for immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, 22 January 2020. EPA-(EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Sa ngayon ang nakikita naming slowdown ay dito pa lang sa mga Chinese travellers," Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said in an interview on GMA 7’s Unang Balita.
"'Yung mga ibang tourist market ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin naman ang pagpasok nila. So ang binabantayan lang talaga natin itong mga Chinese," he added.
Bengzon said the DOT was already closely coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) for daily reports on the situation to protect tourists from possible infection of the deadly virus.
“Ang primary concern kasi namin, gaya ng binanggit ni Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat is yung safety at well being, hindi lamang nung mga tourista pati narin ng mga local visitor,” Bengzon said.
“Pero sa ngayon ay tuloy tuloy naman ang promotion natin sa ibang bansa,” he continued.
Bengzon said they were also getting daily updates from their offices in Beijing and Shanghai on the situation in China.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) suspended on Tuesday the issuance of Visa Upon Arrival (VUA) to Chinese tourists to help curb the spread of the nCoV.
The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in the country had risen to 132 as of end-Tuesday, with another 1,459 new cases confirmed.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China stands at 5,974, exceeding nation's SARS total.
Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Germany, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, United States, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, France, Vietnam, Canada, Ivory Coast and Nepal. (With a report from Reuters)
Passengers wearing face masks who arrived from Guangzhou, China lineup for immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, 22 January 2020. EPA-(EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Sa ngayon ang nakikita naming slowdown ay dito pa lang sa mga Chinese travellers," Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said in an interview on GMA 7’s Unang Balita.
"'Yung mga ibang tourist market ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin naman ang pagpasok nila. So ang binabantayan lang talaga natin itong mga Chinese," he added.
Bengzon said the DOT was already closely coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) for daily reports on the situation to protect tourists from possible infection of the deadly virus.
“Ang primary concern kasi namin, gaya ng binanggit ni Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat is yung safety at well being, hindi lamang nung mga tourista pati narin ng mga local visitor,” Bengzon said.
“Pero sa ngayon ay tuloy tuloy naman ang promotion natin sa ibang bansa,” he continued.
Bengzon said they were also getting daily updates from their offices in Beijing and Shanghai on the situation in China.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) suspended on Tuesday the issuance of Visa Upon Arrival (VUA) to Chinese tourists to help curb the spread of the nCoV.
The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in the country had risen to 132 as of end-Tuesday, with another 1,459 new cases confirmed.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China stands at 5,974, exceeding nation's SARS total.
Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Germany, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, United States, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, France, Vietnam, Canada, Ivory Coast and Nepal. (With a report from Reuters)