Phl eyes banning travel to Korea amid COVID
MANILA — The Philippines is studying the possibility of a travel ban on South Korea amid a spike in Coronavirus Disease-19 cases (COVID-19) in the country’s largest tourism market, a move that would only cement a bleak outlook for the fledgling dollar-making industry.
“The task force on emerging infectious diseases may take it up at its next meeting,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message to Philstar.com when asked if a travel ban is being studied.
There is no firmed-up schedule for the meeting yet, he added.
The Bureau of Immigration, which implements travel bans and restrictions, is under the Department of Justice.
Asked whether a travel ban is being considered, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat replied: “No.”
The IATF-EID has representatives from the
Office of the President and from the following departments: Health, Justice, Interior and Local Government, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare and Development, National Defense, and Transportation.
Also represented in the task force are the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Bureau of Immigration, Civil Aeronautics Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Philippine Ports Authority, Office of Civil Defense, and Philippine National Police.
The ban, if imposed, would deal a fresh blow to the local tourism industry, whose last year’s stellar performance is already at risk of getting stalled due to existing travel prohibitions to and from China, the country’s second largest tourism market, as well as Chinese territories, Hong Kong and Macau. — Philstar.com