Multiple natural disasters strike in succession | Philippines: Boracay & Palawan over 1,000 km from disaster zones, all clear

▲The Philippines hit hard by a super typhoon; the DOT assures that major tourist attractions are largely unaffected and urges Taiwanese travelers not to worry. (Photo / Provided by the Philippine Department of Tourism Taiwan Office)

Reported by Chen Zi-Yin / Taipei

Following a major earthquake, the Philippines has been dealt another heavy blow by Super Typhoon Haiyan. This is undoubtedly a successive blow to the tourism market, which had only just begun to recover. In response, the Philippine Department of Tourism issued an official statement pointing out that popular Taiwanese tourist destinations such as Boracay and Palawan are more than a thousand kilometers away from the affected areas, aiming to ease concerns among Taiwanese travelers.

It is understood that the disaster-stricken areas hit by the typhoon are located on the eastern islands of the Visayas region in the Philippines, with the main affected regions being Samar and Leyte. The Philippine Department of Tourism Taiwan Office stated that, calculated from the disaster center of Tacloban, Cebu is 243 km away, Bohol is 310 km away, Boracay is 1,170 km away, and the westernmost Palawan is 1,530 km away.

Tseng Ya-Hui, marketing manager at the Philippine Department of Tourism Taiwan Office, said: “It’s regrettable that this typhoon disaster has once again severely impacted our tourism market. The geographical overview we provided is intended to reassure consumers about the safety of travel and tourism.”


▲Boracay is over a thousand kilometers away from the affected disaster zone. (Photo / Provided by the Philippine Department of Tourism Taiwan Office)