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The People’s Republic has issued a travel ban for the Philippines due to growing worries about unlawful operations within the Philippine online gaming sector. This action follows a period of Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines in large numbers, enticed by the nation’s lenient gaming regulations and the prospect of profitable ventures with Philippine Online Gaming Operators (POGOs).

In a Senate inquiry, Philippine Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri disclosed that Chinese envoy Huang Xilian expressed anxieties regarding the well-being of Chinese travelers in the Philippines. The lack of assurance regarding whether these visitors would engage with POGOs or fall victim to POGO-linked criminal organizations was a significant factor in the travel restriction. The Chinese administration is apprehensive that its citizens might be misidentified as POGO proprietors, exposing them to the danger of abduction and other grave offenses.

In an effort to tackle these apprehensions and suppress illicit operators, the Philippine administration recently declared a major enforcement operation. This encompasses strategies to repatriate roughly 40,000 Chinese employees and close down 175 POGOs.

Nevertheless, this determination has ignited controversy. Mike Danganan, advocating for service vendors and the POGO alliance, contends that this suppression will have dire financial repercussions, resulting in extensive employment reductions. He projects that if this approach persists, approximately 23,000 individuals will become unemployed, many of whom hold well-compensated roles.

This circumstance arises amidst an already declining trend of Chinese tourism to the Philippines. The effects of China’s “zero-COVID” strategy had already substantially diminished the influx of Chinese guests…

During 2019, the nation of the Philippines saw a massive influx of 7 million visitors from mainland China. By 2022, this figure had nosedived to a scant 22,236.

What caused this dramatic decline? Although the global health crisis undoubtedly contributed, another significant element is in play: the Philippines’ emergence as a gambling destination. As Macau, historically the leading Asian gambling hub, encounters growing limitations from Chinese authorities, a substantial portion of this industry is migrating to more hospitable locations. Gambling Insider will conduct an in-depth exploration of this intriguing transition in their forthcoming November/December publication.

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