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Lanzones Festival in Camiguin. Handout

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Camiguin and Dinagat Islands may see the arrival of Canadian visitors soon as the Canadian government made significant adjustments on its travel advisories for the Philippines. As of May 1, Canada has removed both Camiguin and Dinagat Islands from both its “Avoid All Travel” and “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” categories.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/10/16/23/camiguin-kicks-off-44th-lanzones-festival">READ: Camiguin kicks off 44th Lanzones Festival</a> </div>Meanwhile, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, which have been previously listed under the “Avoid All Travel” category have both been downgraded to “Avoid Non-Essential Travel.” As of May 1, 14 municipalities in Western Mindanao remain under Canada’s “Avoid All Travel” advisory for Canadian citizens. According to the Canadian government’s website, the said category is raised over the following destinations, due to the serious threat of terrorism, kidnapping, high levels of crime, and violent clashes between security forces and rebel groups:  1. Basilan2. Cotabato3. Lanao del Sur4. Lanao del Norte5. Maguindanao6. Misamis Occidental7. Sarangani8. South Cotabato9. Sultan Kudarat10. Sulu11. Tawi-Tawi12. Zamboanga del Norte13. Zamboanga del Sur14. Zamboanga Sibugay A total of 11 municipalities, mostly in Central and Eastern Mindanao, also remain under Canda’s “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” due to the risk of kidnapping and high levels of crime: 1. Agusan del Norte2. Agusan del Sur3. Bukidnon4. Davao de Oro5. Davao del Norte6. Davao del Sur excluding Davao City7. Davao Occidental8. Davao Oriental9. Misamis Oriental10. Surigao del Norte excluding Siargao Island11. Surigao del Sur Canada started imposing travel restrictions on a large area of Mindanao after the beheading of two Canadian citizens, Robert Hall and John Ridsdell, in 2016 who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf (ASG) terrorist group.The ASG asked for a hefty ransom but both the Philippines and Canada are against paying ransom for hostages as a policy. Canada, however, has been easing travel restrictions on the Philippines since January this year, when it excluded Siargao and Davao City from its travel advisories for Davao del Sur and Surigao del Norte. According to the Canadian Embassy in Manila, the adjustments in the Canadian government’s travel restrictions was the result of a series of reviews, extensive consultation and field visits due to an appeal from the Philippine government to help its tourism industry, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Canada and the Philippines also celebrated the 75th anniversary of its diplomatic relations last January. The Department of Tourism (DOT) is aiming for 7.7 million tourist arrivals this year - a target that is 30 percent higher than the 5.4 million tourist arrivals registered by the Philippines last year. The country’s highest on record was 8.3 million in 2019. As of May 6, 2024, a total of 2.182 million international tourists have visited the Philippines since January. Top nationalities include South Koreans, Americans, Chinese, Japanese and Australians, with Canadians claiming the 6th spot.

Canada has removed both Camiguin and Dinagat Islands from both its “Avoid All Travel” and “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” categories.

Canada has removed both Camiguin and Dinagat Islands from both its “Avoid All Travel” and “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” categories.

Canada removes travel restrictions for Camiguin, Dinagat Islands

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Canada removes travel restrictions for Camiguin, Dinagat Islands

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 06, 2024 04:54 PM PHT

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Canada

Philippines

travel

tourism

Love the Philippines

DOT

Mindanano

Camiguin

Dinagat Islands

Bukidnon

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