Taiwan tourists cancel Philippines plans

BORACAY, Philippines - Taiwan tourists to Boracay, a world-renowned resort in central Philippines, have started canceling hotel reservations since Taiwan issued an advisory against traveling to the country after Philippine Coast Guards killed a Taiwan fisherman.  

Percy Malonesio, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to Kalibo International Airport (KIA), said on Tuesday, "We have received information from the Mandarin Airlines that they would be canceling their flights coming from Taiwan beginning tomorrow."

"We expect notifications from other airline companies such as the Zest Airlines and the Philippine Airlines anytime today," Malonesio added.

In a separate interview, Tim Ticar of the Department of Tourism in Boracay said that he is currently meeting with officers of the Boracay Foundation Incorporated and the Boracay chamber of Commerce and Industry to assess how much the cancellations of flights will affect the Boracay tourism industry and how we could cope with it.

Taiwan tourists ranked second among all foreign tourists to this resort island in 2012.

Meanwhile, some beach resorts in Boraca have also received booking cancellation requests from Taiwan tourists amid the tension between Taiwan and the Philippines. Many resort owners hope the setback will be temporary.  

The Philippine Coast Guard shot dead a Taiwan fisherman on May 9 at a sea area 164 nautical miles southeast of the southernmost tip of Taiwan, and continued chasing the fishing vessel for about an hour, even after the attacked fishing vessel was fleeing at full speed. Taiwan has imposed a series of sanction measures including freezing the applications of Filipino laborers who wish to work on the island and a travel ban.