The Chinese government has included the Philippines in its tourism blacklist over the continued operations of offshore gaming operators in the country, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday, citing information from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian.

"Ambassador Huang said that the Philippines now is part of a blacklist of tourist sites because they do not know if the tourist going there will be joining POGO operations and they do not know if their nationals who go to the Philippines will be safe from illegal activities done by the Triad, by the syndicates operating POGO," Zubiri said during a Senate inquiry on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

"They may be kidnapped, mistaken for POGO operators. That’s the reason why there’s been a significant drop in Chinese tourists. By the way, they are the largest number of tourists pre-pandemic," he added.

Huang disclosed the decision when he paid courtesy to Zubiri at the Senate on Monday. Citing the Chinese envoy, Zubiri said China wishes that the Philippine government will take action on this.