Photo Courtesy: REUTERS
It is tragic and incredible to know that even in the area of tourism the Philippines is the laggard among the Asean countries. Ours is a country endowed with so many natural gifts of nature compared to our neighbors but tourists are avoiding us like plague.
Thailand made it to an exclusive circles of nations that are favorite destinations of tourists. Vietnan, which not long ago had skirmishes with China, has not only become an investment hub of China, it is also in the bucket list of Chinese globe trotters to visit.
Recently the United States has issued a negative travel advisory on its citizens to evade a number of places to go to in the Philippines. Our government officials cried foul over the advisory especially coming from America which is supposed to be our staunch ally.
But what is really the reason why tourists skip the Philippines? Chinese tourists are the biggest world travellers in terms of numbers. They too are the biggest spenders. Since the present dispensation took over the helm of government, among its first action is to do away with bilateral talks over conflicts of ownership of islands in the South China Sea which are subjects of multilateral claims. Since then, our officials are saber-rattling and opened the country for five military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
We are gearing up for war with China while our neighbors and the western world are rolling the red carpet to welcome Chinese visitors. In our case, our government suspects every Chinese visitor as spies.
Sadly we lost not only tourists but also a major trading partner and source of cheap loans which in not a few instances are accompanied by freebies like bridges and roads. We also forgot that while the US and Europe embargoed their vaccines and personal protective equipments at the height of Covid 19 pandemic, China was around to supplies us with these exigent needs.
Tourism which had been generating millions of dollars for our country is left with just a morsel in dollar cents from some adventurous tourists. Tourists travel around the world for pleasure and vacation. Who would spend their time and money in a place which prepares itself for the next battle arena.
