Tuesday, September 25, 2007 DOT to Koreans: Just obey the law By Carlo P. Mallo
DEPARTMENT of Tourism-Southern Mindanao Director Sonia Garcia remains confident that the Koreans flocking to Davao City will not be affected by the negative publicity about Korean nationals here.
"There are good and bad Koreans. It's just unfortunate that isolated incidents are highlighted in the news," Garcia said over news reports of the seemingly aggressive and bad behavior manifested by some Koreans in Davao City.
"They must follow the laws of the city," Garcia added in an interview Monday at the Kapehan Sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.
After one Korean was deported for failing to follow the anti-smoking ordinance of the city and showing aggressive behavior to authorities, Garcia said Koreans still continue to arrive in the city.
"There was no backlash whatsoever," Garcia said. "Koreans have chartered flights from Korea to the city, and there has been no cancellation of any flight."
"I even forwarded to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano the incident on the anti-smoking ordinance... what he said was that it was even us who were pushing for the law to be passed," Garcia added.
Koreans took center stage as some caught the ire of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for deliberately disobeying the ban on smoking, especially inside the Korean-managed casino at Apo View Hotel.
