China No Longer Processing Visas for Filipino Tour Groups

The People’s Republic of China has stopped processing of visa applications by tour groups from the Philippines, prompting calls from local tourism stakeholders for the Philippine government to reciprocate in a similar way.

The termination of group visas for Filipinos “is because, on 22nd December 2018, there were five Filipino tourists who hold China group visa, disappeared right after arriving Shanghai PVG airport, via an unprofessional operation by a no license travel agent here in China. This tour operator catered this group without checking passengers’ background and charging guarantee deposit.”

Apparently, this was the second time that the unnamed Chinese tour operator did this. There’s no information when Filipino tour groups could start applying for visas again.

Jose C. Clemente III, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, expressed his disappointment over the recent action of the Beijing government and said “there should be reciprocity on the part of the Philippine government,” with a ban on the processing of group visa applications from China, as well.

He suggested that Beijing “crack down on illegal travel agents and tour operators on their end, instead of suspending the processing visa applications from Filipino tour groups. Seems like the problem is on their side, not ours.”

He said although that Beijing would still continue to process individual visa applications from Filipinos, “but most who go there are in tour groups.”