Why PH Tour Operators aren't too worried by Taiwanese cancellations?

by Cathy Rose A. Garcia, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 05/22/2013 12:01 PM | Updated as of 05/23/2013 8:38 AM

MANILA, Philippines - With thousands of Taiwanese tourists canceling their plans to visit the Philippines, you would expect Cesar Cruz, president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association, to be a little more worried.

But Cruz says he is confident Taiwanese tourists will eventually return to the Philippines.

"Hindi kami masyadong worried. It could be like Hong Kong, na initially parang natakot bigla pero give it two or three months bumalik. China was the same, ngayon bumalik na rin charter (flights) ng China," he told ABS-CBNnews.com

"Because at the end of the day, kaya hindi kami nag-papanic, we realize that for markets like China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the Philippines is the best destination."

On Tuesday, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Taiwanese tour agencies have cancelled nearly all tour packages to the Philippines amid tension between the two countriesover the death of a Taiwanese fisherman near Batanes island.

Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz said the cancelled group tour packages from Taiwan involved roughly around 9,500 tourists. He expects the Philippines to lose between 40,000 to 50,000 Taiwanese

In 2012, 216,511 Taiwanese tourists visited the Philippines.

PTOA's Cruz noted the impact for the tourism industry is quite big and sudden, especially for Boracay and Cebu which attract many Taiwanese tourists.

However, he cited the Philippines' experience with China and Hong Kong, which both tried to prevent their citizens from visiting the country. Now, tourists from mainland China and Hong Kong are slowly coming back.

"After that kasi slowly, nag-trickle in... Although naka-blacklist pa rin ang Hong Kong, kita mo dumarating na. At the end of the day, negosyo lang yan," Cruz said.

The Philippines has been on the Hong Kong blacklist since 2010 after the Manila hostage crisis on August 24, 2010 that killed 8 HK tourists.

Tourists from mainland China stayed away from the Philippines last year as tensions between the two countries continued over the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea.

At the end of the day, Cruz said there is a strong demand for tours to the Philippines from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.

"The reality is the regular travelers, wala silang pakialam (they don't care). At the end of the day, they just want to go to a place to relax and it just so happens the Philippines is the best place, it's cheaper," Cruz said.

With the drop in tourists from Taiwan, the DOT may have difficulty in meeting its target of 5.54 million foreign tourist arrivals this year.

"I just hope the DOT will not use this (row with Taiwan) as an excuse not to meet the target (this year). They still have to sustain. Medyo kulang pa tayo," Cruz added.