S.Korea issues travel advisory for tourists to Philippines

South Korea's Foreign Ministry has issued an advisory for tourists to the Philippine island of Boracay, in the wake of the Philippine's high terrorism alert for tourists.

According to GMA News in the Philippines, the government's National Intelligence Coordinating Agency placed 19 regions under high terrorism alert including the popular tourist destinations of Boracay, Samal Island, Cotabato and Tawi-Tawi.

The South Korean government has placed Boracay under a travel advisory, while issuing a travel watch or a ban for some other major tourist destinations in the Southeast Asian country. The Philippine islands are a major holiday destination of South Korean tourists.

Islamic rebels have been engaging in kidnap-for-ransom activities concentrated in the southern Philippine region.

The South Korean Embassy to Manila has strongly advised Koreans residing in and visiting the Philippines to exert utmost caution, with the Philippine government expecting the threat of terror to increase with the upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday season.