Lonely Planet admits error in Banaue Rice Terraces video ‘misleading’

A WOMAN tends the terraces where traditional rice varieties are grown in Banaue town, Ifugao province. EV ESPIRITU/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

MANILA, Philippines — After receiving backlash on social media for publishing a video claiming that the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces was built by the Chinese, travel guide Lonely Planet on Monday evening recognized its mistake, saying the controversial video was ‘misleading’.

Banaue Rice Terraces, carved into the mountains of Ifugao in northern Philippines, was part of Lonely Planet’s video of “world’s greenest places” published Sunday.

The video, however, described Banaue Rice Terraces as “first built around 2,000 years ago by the Chinese,” which netizens immediately challenged.

READ: Netizens to Lonely Planet: Banaue Rice Terraces not built by Chinese

“We would like to thank members of our online community for bringing our attention to the issue of the heritage of the wonderful rice terraces of Banaue,” Lonely Planet said on Twitter.

“We now recognize that our claim that they were introduced 2000 years ago by the Chinese is misleading,” it added.

We would like to thank members of our online community for bringing our attention to the issue of the heritage of the wonderful rice terraces of Banaue. We now recognise that our claim that they were introduced 2000 years ago by the Chinese is misleading. 1/3

— Lonely Planet (@lonelyplanet) April 1, 2019

The travel guide said they are updating the video, assuring the public that they “strive for complete accuracy in our content.”

“At Lonely Planet, we pride ourselves on the information we provide travellers and always strive for complete accuracy in our content,” Lonely Planet said.

“In light of the feedback we have received, we have amended our online content and are updating our video ‘the world’s greenest places’ which also contains the reference,” the travel guide also said.

At Lonely Planet, we pride ourselves on the information we provide travellers and always strive for complete accuracy in our content. In light of the feedback we have received, we have amended our online content and 2/3

— Lonely Planet (@lonelyplanet) April 1, 2019

are updating our video “the world’s greenest places” which also contains the reference. We’ll also ensure the terraces are correctly attributed in the updated edition of our printed guide to the Philippines. 3/3

— Lonely Planet (@lonelyplanet) April 1, 2019

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the rice terraces were built 2,000 years ago by the Ifugaos.

“The Ifugao Rice Terraces are the priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity,” UNESCO said.

“Built 2000 years ago and passed on from generation to generation, the Ifugao Rice Terraces represent an enduring illustration of an ancient civilization that surpassed various challenges and setbacks posed by modernization.” UNESCO added.

UNESCO declared Ifugao Rice Terraces, or commonly known as Banaue Rice Terraces, as a World Heritage Site in 1995. /kga