Chinese tourists in the Philippines will return home as their trips conclude by May 16 as scheduled, according to China's tourism administration.

Almost all Chinese people on group tours will return to China by May 16, as that is the final contract day for the remaining groups of Chinese tourists currently traveling in the Philippines, an unidentified official with the National Tourism Administration said Sunday.

That mostly means that no one travelling in tour groups will be staying in the Philippines after May 16, the official added, noting the escalation of the Huangyan Island situation.

As of Sunday, 682 tourists in 24 groups were in the Philippines, according to statistics from the administration.

The administration published a statement on Thursday suggesting domestic tourists suspend travels to the Southeast Asian nation out of safety concerns.

Most travel agencies in China have suspended or halted tours to the Philippines and have promised to refund affected tourists.

滬江英語快訊：近日，國家旅游局有關(guān)人士在接受采訪時(shí)說，為保障中國游客赴菲旅游安全，中國游客除非必要應(yīng)暫緩前往菲律賓旅游，相關(guān)旅行社對(duì)已報(bào)名游客進(jìn)行退款。預(yù)計(jì)到5月16日后，這些旅游團(tuán)將完成所有旅游行程按計(jì)劃返回國內(nèi)。