Immigration denying visa upon arrival request of tour groups from Wuhan

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has been denying visa upon arrival (VUA) applications of tour groups from Wuhan, the epicenter of a novel coronavirus outbreak that has killed 25 people in China.

"We have been denying applications for VUA for tour groups who will be flying in from Wuhan, following the announcement of the Civil Aeronautics Board to suspend all direct flights from Wuhan to the PH," bureau spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.

The Philippines has suspended direct flights from Wuhan as a precaution against the spread of the 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has infected more than 800 people in China. Wuhan itself, a city of 11 million, has suspended most transport.

There are still no confirmed cases in the Philippines, according to the Department of Health on Thursday.

In 2017, the BI launched a VUA program aimed towards attracting more tourists and investors from China.

Under the direction of then-Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, the BI issued "landing visas," allowing a traveller to receive his or her actual visa at the airport of destination.

The program was opened to members of tour groups organized by tour operators accredited by the tourism department, businessmen endorsed by local and foreign chambers of commerce and other government agencies, and athletes and delegates to conventions and exhibitions.

Last August, the BI recommended non-extendable 30-day VUAs for foreign nationals. At the time, VUAs could be extended to six months upon application.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete had said the shortening of the VUA's validity period could prevent possible abuse. —LDF, GMA News