Chinese tourists trapped by typhoon, refused by hotel in Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan hits Iloilo, the Philippines' central province. (Photo: CNS)

(ECNS) – A Weibo post on Nov. 10 said 14 visitors from East China's Hangzhou city were trapped in Boracay Island in the Philippines, and were kicked out of their hotel because they didn't have enough cash to pay for the rooms, according to gmw.cn.

They were scheduled to leave the island on Nov. 7, but were trapped there by Typhoon Haiyan, according to the post. The travel agency rearranged for their stay, but the hotel refused them because they didn't have enough cash and couldn't pay by card thanks to the power failure.

The 14 tourists chipped in and stayed at a local inn instead.

Tourists had to spend another four or five days on the island, which cost them around 3,000 yuan ($492). Some stranded tourists said on Weibo that the travel agency should pay the extra costs.

However, a staff member from the Tourism Bureau of Zhejiang province explained that according to the new tourism law, travel agencies have the obligation to help find accommodations, but tourists must pay the extra fees.

Over 400 tourists from Zhejiang province were trapped on the island because of Typhoon Haiyan. Li Weigang, a division chief at the provincial tourism bureau, said there were no injuries among the Zhejiang tourists, according to reports from travel agencies.