It’s safe to travel to RP despite flu cases

MANILA, Philippines—It’s safe to travel to the Philippines, and its destinations that are free of the A/H1N1 flu virus.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano has allayed foreign tourists’ fears of traveling to the Philippines in view of the deadly flu virus, saying there was no pandemic yet.

“As long as the swine flu in the country is isolated and contained, and not a pandemic, this will not affect tourist movements in the country,” he told the Inquirer.

Durano issued this message to foreign tourists: “There’s no pandemic and no case of swine flu in our destinations.”

Since the first of two cases of influenza A/H1N1 virus infection was confirmed, the Department of Tourism has sent advisories to its offices as well as travel agencies abroad to relay that flu cases in the country are contained, he said.

Other officials shrugged off foreign governments’ advisories cautioning their citizens on traveling to the Philippines due to the flu virus.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday said it was understandable for countries to issue an advice of caution to its nationals planning to travel to the Philippines.

But he added: “Our only appeal is that there should be more perspective in the issuance of their advisories.”

Australia and Canada have posted advisories on travel to the Philippines in their embassies’ websites in view of the two confirmed cases of A/H1N1 virus infection in the country.

Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, for his part, allayed fears on the adverse impact of the virus on the economy.