Philippines welcomes Hong Kong tourism

The Philippines Department of Tourism announced a campaign to bring in tourists from Hong Kong, inviting Hong Kong travel agents and media to a tour of resorts. The "familiarization tour" will take travelers to business centers, the beach resorts of Daluyon, Sheridan and Dos Palmas, a "firefly watch" in Iwahig and a cruise on the Bacungan River, China's Xinhua News Agency reported Monday. The campaign aims to promote the Philippines as a "viable and safe tourist destination for the Hong Kong public," the country's Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Hong Kong has not yet lifted a travel restriction, in force after a hostage-taking incident in Manila, Philippines, in 2010 killed eight Hong Kong nationals and led to a steep decline in tourism, the Philippine news agency GMA said Monday.