Tourism players urge government to address terror threats in southern CebuCEBU CITY, Nov. 4 (PNA) -- Cebu tourism players have asked the government, especially the Philippine National Police (PNP), to immediately address reported kidnapping and terrorist threats in the southern part of this central Philippine island province.
Southern Cebu is a flourishing tourism corridor known for canyoneering, whale shark watching and scuba diving, among other water activities.
It covers Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob and Santander on the eastern coast and Samboan, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal and Dumanjug on the western side.
The United States Embassy in Manila issued on Thursday a warning on its citizens against traveling to areas frequented by foreigners in southern Cebu, specifically around Dalaguete and Santander, including Sumilon Island.
The US Embassy said terrorist groups are planning to conduct kidnappings in those areas in Cebu.
Edilberto Mendoza, Cebu Association of Tour Operators president, said the security warning can hurt arrivals from the US, although this market does not account for majority of Cebu’s visitors.
“The effect might not be that significant but still our PNP officials need to be vigilant on this,†he said.
“There is always a threat of terrorism anywhere in the Philippines,†Mendoza said.
Total tourism arrivals in southern Cebu stood at 43,143 tourists, 13,347 of them foreign, from January to July this year, according to the latest data of the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7.
The US is Cebu’s third biggest source market after Korea and Japan.
Arrivals from this market grew by 14.92 percent from 81,632 to 93,810 in the first seven months this year.
Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort has assured its guests and the public that the resort remains safe and secure amid threats of terrorism.
“It is business as usual,†said Enrico Monsato, Bluewater Resorts marketing communications officer.
The resort has not received booking cancellations so far, he said.
“We take the safety of our guests very seriously. Our security personnel at Sumilon Island are in a constant state of readiness to ensure that all our guests remain safe and secure. To help support our own security detail, the Philippine Coast Guard has also maintained a detachment in the island since August of this year. The Philippine Navy and Air Force have deployed patrol boats and choppers in the area as extra precaution and to ensure public safety,†the resort said in a statement.
Rhyz Buac, Bluewater Resorts general manager, said there is nothing to worry about as Sumilon Island, where their resort is located, is tightly secured. (PNA)
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