Philippines to promote domestic travel to local residents

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte plans to visit Boracay, Cebu and Bohol as part of a domestic travel campaign to encourage residents of the Philippines to visit local areas (Business World Online, 11-Feb-2020). The tour is part of efforts to compensate for losses to the country's tourism sector following the coronavirus outbreak. The private sector is offering lower rates for the domestic market following cancellations from international tourists, with hotels and restaurants cutting rates by up to 50% and carriers planning to offer lower airfares. Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) stated around 40% of Boracay services had seen suspended since the travel ban on China, Macau and Hong Kong was imposed. TCP president Jose Clemente III added: "If it drags on, it becomes catastrophic for the smaller players in the industry".