Tourism Down

                 MANILA -- Perceptions of lawlessness in the
                 Philippines as a result of fighting in Mindanao and
                 bombings in Manila were hurting the country's tourism
                 industry, said Tourism Secretary Gemma
                 Cruz-Araneta.

                 "There is an impact," the Philippine Star yesterday
                 quoted her as saying.

                 She was referring to a decline in tourist arrivals since
                 the escalation last month of fighting between
                 government troops and Muslim rebels in Mindanao.
                 She did not disclose figures.

                 She noted that the United States recently issued an
                 advisory to its citizens to avoid portions of the
                 southern Philippines.

                 That would "further hurt" tourism, she added.

                 Yesterday she issued a travel advisory, insisting that
                 tourist areas "remain safe, pleasant and peaceful".

                 The advisory said the islands of Jolo and Basilan,
                 where the Abu Sayyaf holds two sets of hostages,
                 including Western tourists, "are the remotest areas of
                 the country, where there are no tourism destinations
                 as these are inaccessible even to most Filipinos".

                 She said Islamic separatists in Mindanao were a
                 "phenomenon that dates back to the 16th century".

                 Meanwhile, the Philippine Tourism Authority is
                 optimistic that 175 million pesos (S$7.4 million),
                 released earlier for eco-tourism projects, would draw
                 attention to the country as a "wholesome nature
                 destination".

                       Adapted from The Straits Times, 26 May 2000.