Philippine Tourists Bracing for Worst as Volcano Brings Its Fury
Philippine Tourists Bracing for Worst as Volcano Brings Its Fury
(Bloomberg) -- It’s the peak of the tourist season in the Philippines, and the volcano erupting just 40 miles from Manila couldn’t come at a worse time.
The country had recently reopened Boracay, ranked by Condé Nast Traveler as Asia’s “best island.” Some of the most popular cultural events in the nation are scheduled for this week. Even U.S. comedian Dave Chappelle is planning to perform for two nights in the capital.
The Philippines said Sunday there’s an imminent threat of a hazardous eruption of the Taal Volcano, now rumbling and spewing ash and smoke just 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of the capital Manila. Nearby schools and government offices were closed, and as many as 200,000 people could be forced from their homes.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila suspended all flights “until further notice” as ash began accumulating on ramps and runways, airport officials announced. Almost 170 flights have been canceled.
January has typically been the most popular month for Philippine tourism as the rainy season winds down at the end of the year. A total of 732,506 visitors arrived in the country in January 2018, more than any month. A similar number of travelers came in January 2019.
The eruption also hit just weeks after homes in Boracay were damaged by Typhoon Phanfone, which struck right before Christmas. The resort island, known for its powdery white sand and shallow waters, was shut down for months for a government clean up before gradually reopening to the public about a year ago.
Cebu, in central Philippines, is scheduled to hold ‘Sinulog,’ a religious and cultural dance parade, at the end of the week. Organizers billed it as the country’s biggest cultural event that draws millions of visitors.
With the economy in danger of notching its slowest expansion since 2011, attracting tourists is a key focus of efforts to boost growth. Tourism accounted for 12.7% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product in 2018.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ian Sayson in Manila at isayson@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Cecilia Yap at cyap19@bloomberg.net, Matthew G. Miller, Linus Chua
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