‘Tourists flocking to Palawan despite travel advisories’

Contrary to fears generated by foreign travel advisories, Palawan remains safe and terror-free for tourists.

Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez yesterday gave the assurance, citing the large number of foreigners, mostly Koreans, Japanese and Chinese, flocking to the province.

This only proved holiday travelers and tourists from these countries felt safe to visit Palawan, ignoring the travel advisories, he said.

“It’s only the Westerners who are so afraid because of their no-ransom policy,” Alvarez said over radio dzRH.

Alvarez cited the continu-following ing robust tourist traffic in Palawan not only from foreign tourists but also locals going on holiday with their families.

He downplayed the terror alerts issued by the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries, warning their nationals from traveling to Palawan.

Citing possible terror attacks, the travel advisories particularly pointed to Abu Sayyaf bandits targeting foreigners in popular tourist destinations in Palawan, Bohol and other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Because of these travel advisories, Alvarez lamented Americans and Western tourists have cancelled their plans to go to Palawan.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo also gave assurance Palawan is safe.

“Prior to the issuance of this week’s travel advisories, police and military have put security measures in place,” Teo said.

She added the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have also guaranteed Palawan as a safe tourist destination.

PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said there were no reports of any terrorist group activity in Palawan.

“Our only basis are the advisories of the US and British governments but other than that, we haven’t monitored any,” he said.

Dela Rosa ordered MIMAROPA regional police director Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor to beef up security to prevent the Abu Sayyaf or any armed group from entering any part of Palawan.

Alvarez added security forces in the province have been on heightened alert since the start of the summer season, even before the government foiled the Abu Sayyaf attempt to kidnap tourists in Bohol last April 12.

Alvarez said the national government and provincial authorities have learned from the bitter lesson of the Abu Sayyaf attack in May 2001.