EDITORIAL - Travel advisories

You can’t stop foreign governments from issuing travel advisories to their citizens. We have similar advisories in trouble spots around the world. And there’s no disputing the fact that Basilan – the subject of the travel advisories issued by the United States, Britain, Canada, France and Japan – spells trouble especially for foreigners. The island-province is home to the main faction of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, which counts many residents among its supporters. Some other parts of Mindanao were also included in the advisories, mostly places where foreigners have been the targets of terrorists and ordinary criminals, or where there have been major peace and order problems in recent months.

The Abu Sayyaf, listed worldwide as a cell of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist network, still has a Filipina nurse and an American missionary couple as hostages. Until the captives are rescued and there can be some certainty that the Abu Sayyaf has been neutralized, those advisories won’t be lifted.

Instead of complaining, the government can focus on improving the country’s appeal as a visitors’ destination. The country has enough natural wonders to lure visitors. Filipinos are friendly and hospitable. The government must get out the message to the world that the trouble spots in this country are confined only to a small area. And if there are bomb threats in Metro Manila, consider actual terrorist attacks in London, Egypt, Israel, New York. People still visit the pyramids and go on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem. Visitors still go to Manhattan.

The Sept. 11 terror attacks dealt the international tourism industry a serious blow. The best way to bring back visitors is by reassuring the world that the Philippines is a safe destination. This means the military should do its job and get Khadaffy Janjalani and his band. This also means the police must score a major victory against kidnap-for-ransom gangs.

Aside from dealing with peace and order problems, garbage must be collected, public toilets kept clean, traffic kept flowing, air quality improved. If the world sees that Filipinos themselves find their own country a pleasant place to live, the visitors will keep coming.