The disaster-stricken areas are gradually recovering! The Philippines' Bohol Province and Central Visayas islands have downgraded their "gray" travel alert levels.

▲ The Philippines has been hit hard by consecutive natural disasters, but the situation is gradually recovering. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has downgraded the travel alert levels today. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ziying)

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

The Philippines has been hit by successive natural disasters in recent times, first due to a strong earthquake and then by Typhoon Haiyan severely striking the central islands, which also dealt a heavy blow to the country’s tourism industry. However, several months later,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today (14th) that it has downgraded the travel alert levels for Bohol Province and the Central Visayas islands to "gray," indicating that the local tourism situation has improved.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in the announcement that the damage caused by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol Province in Central Philippines on October 15 of the previous year (2013), as well as the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan on the Central Visayas islands (including Boracay and Cebu) on November 8 of the same year, have now largely been recovered. Starting today, the travel alert levels for the aforementioned two areas have been downgraded to "gray." However, travelers planning to visit these regions are still advised to remain vigilant about their safety.

【ETtoday Travel Alert Guide ─ Travel Alert Levels】
Red (High): Not advisable to travel
Orange (Medium): Exercise high caution, avoid non-essential travel
Yellow (Low): Be aware of safety and consider whether to travel
Gray (Minor): Remain vigilant