Industry calls for help in Philippines relief effort
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The Intrepid Foundation and PATA are amongst the travel and tourism organisations raising money for the Philippines relief effort.
The Intrepid Foundation, through Intrepid Travel, Peregrine, Geckos, Adventure Tours Australia Group and The Adventure Company, has launched a Philippines Disaster Appeal matching donations from pound to pound and dollar to dollar for up to AU$20,000 (GBP11,000).
PATA’s CEO Martin Craigs called on members and the industry to offer help in any way possible and has earmarked US$10,000 (GBP6, 294) from the PATA Foundation to help those affected in the Philippines. Each chapter has been encouraged to raise a further US$10,000 each.
Companies are also helping their Filipino employees, with cruise line Fred. Olsen helping staff to return home and also donating money to cruising agent Bahia Shipping that will be distributed to the families most at need.
Tens of thousands of people have died from the effects of Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the Philippines with winds up to 170mph. More than nine million people are now thought to be struggling with no food, shelter or clean drinking water.
The main airports at Manila and Cebu remain open with the northern islands of the country still welcoming tourists.
However the FCO has placed all but essential travel advice on lower parts of the country mainly the Eastern Visayas region and provinces of Samar and Leyte where supplies are limited and relief effort is being carried out.
Typhoon Haiyan has now made landfall in Vietnam near Ha Long Bay with winds up to 85mph.
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