The country is expecting more Chinese tourists, with additional flights opening between mainland China and Taiwan to Cebu and Kalibo. The Department of Tourism (DOT) said that the new flights are in anticipation of the tourist influx in the said destinations, which will last until this year’s latter part to the early months of next year.
“Direct flights to their chosen destinations are a growing demand from the Chinese market which continues to be a stable source despite the crisis,” Tourism Secretary Ace Durano stressed.
The said flights include Kaohsiung – Cebu charter flight via China Airlines for 5 days a week; Guangzhou – Cebu, twice weekly chartered flight, via China Southern Airlines; Shanghai – Kalibo via Shanghai Airlines, twice weekly chartered flight; and Hangzhou – Kalibo via Philippine Airlines, also twice weekly.
The new chartered flight to Kalibo is already fully-booked, with the first few departures including some members of the Chinese media who have been invited by the agency for a series of familiarization tours of the famed beach of Boracay.
Apart from stimulating the market, the new air seats will allow local travel and tour operators to tap a greater number of potential Chinese travelers. Among other things, the DOT is promoting the Philippines as a shopping and beach haven to the said market.
Cebu has enjoyed the highest number of Chinese arrivals early this year, posting a remarkable percentage of growth, while Boracay is the most-favored destination among the beach-bound Chinese tourists.
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