Spat with China drives tourists from Boracay
A dispute over maritime boundaries is slamming the economy on one of the Philippine’s most famous islands.
Published On 16 Jul 2012
The Chinese government has ordered tour companies to suspend visits to Boracay, a jewel in the Philippines’ tourism economy, amid an escalating dispute over the two countries’ maritime borders.
Philippines officials estimate they have lost 200,000 Chinese tourists since the ban went into place just one month ago. But the government remains defiant, and the number of visitors from Russia, Taiwan and South Korea has almost doubled over the past five years.
Officials say they want to solve the problem peacefully, but they will not give in easily.
Al Jazeera’s Jamela Alindongan reports from Boracay.
Source: Al Jazeera