Taiwanese tourists start cancellation of flights to Boracay

Taiwanese tourists bound for this resort island have started cancelling their hotel reservations causing worry to the stakeholders.
This developed after Engr. Percy Malonesio, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) at the Kalibo International Airport (KIA), announced Tuesday that several airline companies had notified cancellation of flights to and from Taiwan beginning May 22.
"We have received information from the Mandarin Airlines that they will be cancelling their flights coming from Taiwan beginning tomorrow. We expect notifications from other airline companies such as the Zest Airlines and the Philippine Airlines to also follow through anytime today," said Malonesio.
The cancellation of flights was attributed to the ongoing tension between the Taiwanese and the Philippine governments over the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman. Report said the Taiwanese government has ordered travel ban to the Philippines.
Flights coming to and from Taipei, Taiwan are scheduled twice a week by airline companies Zest Air, Philippine Airlines, and Mandarin Airlines.
Although affected, the KIA will still continue its routine operation.
"We consider Taiwanese tourists important factor to our economy. Yet, we have stable flights coming from Korea and China right now," said Malonesio.
In a separate interview, Tim Ticar of the Department of Tourism-Boracay said that he is currently meeting with the officers of the Boracay Foundation Incorporated and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"The meeting is aimed to assess how the cancellation of flights could affect the Boracay tourism industry and on how we could cope with it," said Ticar.
Taiwanese tourists composed the second highest arrivals to this resort island in 2012.