Samal Island bars entry of Chinese, other Asian tourists amid nCoV scare

The Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte will temporarily cease accommodating Chinese and other Asian tourists in a bid to prevent the possible transmission of novel coronavirus.

"As a proactive measure to protect our people from exposure to the much dreaded coronavirus, the local government unit of the Island Garden City of Samal is temporarily suspending entry of group tour travels of Mainland Chinese tourists and other Asian nationals to our city," the public information office of Samal said in an advisory on Wednesday.

"We are promoting our city for tourism but the safety of our people is foremost," it added.

City health personnel will visit and monitor the condition of Asian nationals currently checked-in at resorts in Samal Island, local government information officer Michael Homez told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

The resort owners and establishments were also informed not to accept bookings from other Asian tourists until the novel coronavirus outbreak subsides, he added.

The local government implored its partners in the tourism industry, especially tour operators, to cooperate with the said measure.

An advisory will be released once the entry suspension gets lifted, Homez said.

Samal Island—only 10 to 15 minutes away from Davao City via motor or ferry boat—is a tourist destination known for its paradise-like beaches.

According to the Department of Health, one of the 23 persons under investigation in the country for possible novel coronavirus infection is in the Davao region. —Dona Magsino/LBG, GMA News