Western Visayas tourism losses reach P100M

Losses in tourism in Western Visayas due to the August 23 Manila hostage tragedy have soared to P100 million, with recovery not expected until January 2011. Regional tourism head Edwin Trompeta said most of the losses came from canceled vacations to Boracay although in general, Negros Occidental has been spared from the blow on tourism. "From all indications some tour operators who have been affected came back during a Philippine Travel Exchange program last week and they’re saying they are still willing to sell the Philippines but have to consider the sentiments of the market at this time," Trompeta said in an article posted on the news site Visayan Daily Star on Tuesday. "We expect the recovery period to take place before the Chinese New Year in January," he added. The tourism industry was severely affected by the August 23 hostage tragedy, wherein eight Hong Kong tourists and their hostage-taker were killed. The hostage-taker, Rolando Mendoza, a dismissed senior police inspector, hijacked a bus carrying 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. Mendoza was demanding for his reinstatement. At the end of an 11-hour standoff, Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists were killed. Hong Kong had issued a "black" travel advisory that discouraged travel to the Philippines after the incident. However, Trompeta said some areas in Negros Occidental, including beaches in Sipalay City, continue to draw tourists from Europe who love the sun and the sea. He also said other promising tourism destinations in Western Visayas include Northern Iloilo and Guimaras, which he said have attributes comparable to Boracay. "Boracay has become very popular and we need to channel the traffic to other areas," he added. Losses in Boracay Of the P100 million in losses, Trompeta said P50 million was lost due to canceled P3,000-plus room reservations up to the end of December. The other P50 million comes from extra revenues based on the canceled bookings, he said. Trompeta said tourism contributes $9.72 billion to the economy, or six percent of the Gross Domestic Product, and employs one out of 10 people in the workforce. The target is to double visitor arrivals to six million by 2016 when President Aquino leaves office, with earnings of P18.7 billion, he added. Masskara in Bacolod City In Bacolod City, meanwhile, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said his turf is not affected during the MassKara Festival since Bacolod City is not dependent on Chinese tourists. Leonardia said he was informed that a hotel in Bacolod was already fully booked for the MassKara Festival last month. He said he believes that by the time the MassKara Festival starts, the issue about the hostage incident would already have died down. He cited a newspaper article, saying that the traffic of Chinese tourists in the country is still high. City Tourism Officer Imogene Kanaan said she is optimistic that local tourists will continue to go to Bacolod City during the MassKara Festival in October. Kanaan said they have started to promote the MassKara Festival in other countries because 80 percent of the visitors are balikbayans and local tourists. Leonardia said this year’s MassKara Festival will feature a float parade because they try to introduce something new every time he starts a new term. In 2004, they introduced the countdown to the Charter Day and in 2007 they introduced the Electric MassKara when they closed Lacson Street to traffic, he said. –VVP, GMANews.TV