DOT to tourists: Be good guests, respect Filipinos

[Lee]

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday urged tourists to treat Filipinos with respect and observe proper conduct when visiting the country’s popular destinations.

The DOT made the call amid reports that a group of foreign tourists allegedly assaulted the owners of a café in Siargao earlier this week.

In a statement, the agency did not specifically mention the incident, but reminded Filipino and foreign tourists that no one gets special treatment under the Philippines’ laws.

“We, Filipinos, are known for our warmth. But hospitality is not an invitation to disrespect our people, our culture, or our laws,” the DOT said.

“Every tourist is welcome in the Philippines, so long as they come with respect. When it comes to the law, no one gets special treatment. Local or foreign, the standard is the same,” it added.

The DOT stressed that it stands “in defense of Siargao’s tourism, but more than that, we stand in defense of Filipino dignity and welfare.”

“Our message is simple: You are welcome in the Philippines. Be a good guest, honor the Filipino people and the Filipino people will honor you back even more,” the agency said.

On May 12, the local government unit (LGU) of General Luna, Siargao condemned the alleged attack of two foreigners on a Filipino couple who owned a café on the island.

The DOT also urged the public “not paint an entire race or nationality with the same brush.”

“The actions of a few do not speak for the many,” the agency added.

The DOT urged the public and tourists to report any form of violence to police and submit evidence such as photos, videos, or CCTV footage.

“Stay vigilant and report any form of violence to the authorities without delay,” it said. — JMA, GMA News

DOT to tourists: Be good guests, respect Filipinos 

 

READ: General Luna LGU releases statement after foreign tourists allegedly attack local business owners

 General Luna LGU releases statement after foreign tourists allegedly attack local business owners

The statement condemned the reported act of violence and lawlessness against the owners of a local business.

The local government of Siargao is not stepping in after another reported incident of alleged Israeli citizens harassing Siargao locals has made headlines.

In one of the more recent posts on its official Facebook account, the local government unit (LGU) of General Luna, Siargao, condemned the reported act of violence and lawlessness that involved “two (2) unidentified indivuals” who “attacked and mauled” the owners of a local business.

In the statement, the LGU called the incident “not just an attack on an individual or a business, but an affront to the safety and security that every Lunanian and visitor deserves.”

The post also said that the General Luna Municipal Police Station and local authorities are conducting an ongoing investigation, and that the LGU will not allow a culture of impunity to take root. The LGU also called on citizens to share information, submit evidence, and remain vigilant when it comes to suspicious activity.

The statement springs from an incident that spread on social media yesterday on the Facebook group Siargao Secrets, where a May 11 post reported an attack on a café displaying a pro-Palestinian flag. A group of Israeli nationals allegedly “CCTV cameras, threw rocks, and physically assaulted the café owners”, who also had their young child present.

The incident quickly blew up, especially since Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh called for the “firm enforcement” of Philippine laws on the misbehaving Israeli tourists last month.

“We want to say this loud and clear: If there is an Israeli tourist who is misbehaving, the relevant Filipino authorities should enforce the law—because they need to enforce the law,” she told media during its 78th Independence Day celebrations.

Siargao Secrets also posted that the Israeli Ambassador did not show up to a local stakeholder meeting to discuss the concerns of locals regarding the behavior of Israeli tourists on the island. Present at the stakeholder meeting were the two victims of the café assault.

The incident quickly blew up, especially since Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh called for the “firm enforcement” of Philippine laws on the misbehaving Israeli tourists last month.

 

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Lee
clarification

[Lee]

FB post about the incident.

[Guy F.]

So no arrests were made?