No travel ban by Korea despite Jee kidnap-slay — tourism chief

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said the government of South Korea had not issued a travel ban on the Philippines despite the kidnapping and death of Jee Ick-joo. ACE MORANDANTE/Presidential Photographers Division

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo on Thursday said the agency had not yet received a travel ban from South Korea following the killing of businessman Jee Ick-joo.

The tokhang-for-ransom case, however, is expected to affect the number of tourist arrivals in the Philippines, Teo said.

“Every time there’s killing or bombing, tourism is always affected,” Teo said in a press briefing.

“In case tourist arrival declines, we focus on other emerging markets,” she added.

Teo said she hasn’t spoken to her counterpart in South Korea but “we sent out condolence for what happened. We told them we hope this will be settled the soonest possible time.”

As of November 2016, visitors from Korea topped the spending market with an aggregate spent of P5.65 billion, the DOT said. CBB/rga