DoT sets aggressive promotion to counter possible Taiwan travel ban

The Department of Tourism (DoT) is set to launch an aggressive promotion in China and South Korea in order to cope with the possibility of losing Taiwanese tourists this year.
Tim Ticar of the DoT-Boracay said Monday that before the conflict with Taiwan worsens, the DoT is already preparing for media tours from China and South Korea for the months of May and June.
"If ever the Taiwanese government enforces the travel ban to the Philippines, the DoT will shift its massive tourism promotion to East Asian countries," Ticar said.
In 2012, South Korean tourists registered 156,445 followed by Taiwan with 92,209. Mainland China is at the third spot with 82,358.
The DoT will also try to add promotional ventures to Hong Kong being a promising tourist potentials for Boracay. Hong Kong in 2012 was at the top eight of the largest number of tourists going to Boracay with 7,349 in 2012.
The DoT is considering it a great loss if the Taiwanese government enforces its travel ban this year as the tourism agency targets 1.5 million tourists for Boracay. This resort island has so far survived though the travel ban imposed by the Chinese government in the year 2012.
"We may expect more promotional tours coming from East Asian countries this year," Ticar said.