ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines ? Businesses in Boracay have lost P15 million in income opportunities due to the cancellation of bookings in Boracay by tourists from the Hong Kong territory and the rest of China following the bloody hostage-taking last week, the Department of Tourism (DoT) said.

DoT regional director Edwin Trompeta said that based on the reports reaching his office, 500 visitors from Hong Kong and China have called off their trips to the island in the following few weeks.

In one resort in Boracay alone, an estimated P5.8 million worth of reservations was canceled in the aftermath of the hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand last August 23 where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.

Six other resorts and hotels also reported canceled bookings worth P300,000 to P650,000 each. These tourists would usually stay from two to four nights on the island, Trompeta said in a telephone interview on Monday.

The losses including transportation expenses and spending on food, souvenir and entertainment on the island could reach P15 million to P20 million, according to Trompeta.

?These losses only cover canceled reservations and we have to consider potential bookings that could be called off because of what happened,? Trompeta said.

Trompeta said they were expecting for the situation to eventually normalize but the extent of the impact on the tourism industry would be known by mid September just before the start of the peak season in Boracay and other tourist destinations. Around 60,000 tourists from China and Hong Kong visit Western Visayas, mostly in Boracay, each year.

Trompeta said the first three months after the hostage tragedy would be critical and the tourism industry would need to be more aggressive in its promotional campaigns to reach out to consumers.

?We have to rely on our domestic market, on our fellow Filipinos, to cover whatever slack in tourist arrivals especially from China and Hong Kong,? Trompeta said.

The DoT has set up a vigil center at its regional office in Iloilo City where mourners and sympathizers of the victims of the hostage-taking could light candles and offense and offer flowers and prayers.

?In this way, we can show and let everyone know, especially the tourists, that we do not condone the hostage-taking and killing of their compatriots. Nobody wanted this to happen and we are sorry that this happened,? Trompeta said.