Manila airport workers have been banned from wishing travelers a Merry Christmas, according to local a newspaper.

The warning was issued by airport general manager Alfonso Cusi who claimed the polite yuletide greeting was a "not so subtle way of asking for money" from arriving passengers, the Manila Standard Today reported on its front page.

The directive, which is issued every year to airport employees, aims to "prevent airport personnel and security officers from soliciting money from passengers," Cusi was quoted as saying.

Anyone found violating the order will be punished, he said.

The paper said the edict is usually ignored, adding: "Critics say there are other means of shaking down passengers aside from saying Merry Christmas."

November and December are traditionally peak months at Manila airport with 897,820 arrivals for the two months last year.

(Agencies via China Daily November 21, 2008)