DOT pushes for more RP-China flights to boost tourism
August 10, 2009 10:24 am
CEBU CITY Aug. 10 — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for more flights between China and the Philippines, underscoring China as an important source of tourists for the Philippines amid the global financial crisis.
The DOT is also embarking on multiple promotional approaches to lure more Chinese visitors to the country.
The DOT expects more Chinese visitors to the Philippines in the coming months with the recent addition of flights between mainland China and Taiwan and Cebu and Kalibo, Aklan.
These flights include the five-weekly Kaohsiung-Cebu chartered flights of China Airlines, the twice-weekly Gungzhou-Cebu chartered flights of China Southern Airlines, the twice-weekly Shanghai-Kalibo chartered flights of Shanghai Airlines and the thrice-weekly Hangzhou-Kalibo flight of Philippine Airlines.
”The growing demand) for direct flights to their chosen destinations among the Chinese continues to be a stable source of tourists despite the crisis,” Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said in a statement.
He said the DOT is pushing for more airline seats for Chinese tourists with the help of the Civil Aeronautics Board, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Customs.
In Cebu, the volume of Chinese tourists increased by 85.45 percent in the first semester of this year. In the first six months of the year, China is among Cebu’s top 10 international tourist markets.
Durano said the additional airline seats for the China-Philippine route will allow more local travel and tour operators to tap Chinese tourists.
He noted that Cebu enjoyed the highest number of Chinese arrivals in the early part this year. Boracay is the most favored beach destination among Chinese tourists.
The DOT is promoting the Philippines to China as a destination for weddings and honeymoons as well as “a shopping and beach haven.”
”We are strong on all factors that draw Chinese tourists to a country. We have value-for-money destination packages, pervasive Chinese influences, and visa-upon-arrival for tourists,” said Eduardo Jarque Jr., DOT undersecretary for tourism planning and promotions. (PNA)/V3/EB/bh/
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