Julia Christine Botin

Non-stop PH-India flights soon; more flights to Europe, Middle East also eyed

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Non-stop flights between India and the Philippines may begin this year, according to the Department of Tourism, adding that the new direct route can help increase tourist arrivals to the country following a decline of visitors from other markets such as South Korea.At a forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the government welcomes the arrival of more direct flights to the Philippines, following the recent non-stop flights of Air France, Air Canada, and United.She said India is next on the list and direct flights may begin at the latter part of 2025.“The national government is in full support of welcoming this inaugural flight from India, even as the electronic visa system has already been launched,” Frasco said.She added that the Indian market is a good source of tourists, especially amid the decline of international visitors from other markets. Based on the DOT data, the top source of tourist arrivals is South Korea, with 395,059 visitors in the first quarter of this year. But that is 13.9 percent lower than the 458,619 tourists in the same period last year. Chinese tourists also declined by 33.7 percent from 109,568 in the first quarter last year to 72,665 this year.Garcia said that, aside from India, they are also looking to attract more tourists from Europe as well as from the GCC or Gulf Cooperation Council members, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman.“We’re also hoping to be able to increase routes in terms of the GCC and the Middle East noting that while there are already several connection points as well as flights coming from these jurisdictions, the growth is very encouraging,’ she said.But more than just international arrival figures, Frasco said what should also be highlighted is that tourism receipts in the country hit P760 billion last year, which is 126 percent higher compared to the pre-pandemic era.She said that while the number of international visitors coming to the country is still small compared to its neighbors, visitor spending in the Philippines is at an all-time high.The DOT hopes that more tourists will visit the Philippines this year as the country also improves its airports and other tourism infrastructure. Frasco is also banking on the new law on tax refund for foreign tourists, which will help entice more travelers to visit and shop in the Philippines and also help the country’s retail sector.

The new direct route is seen to help increase tourist arrivals to the country, following a decline in visitors from other markets, such as South Korea.

The new direct route is seen to help increase tourist arrivals to the country, following a decline in visitors from other markets, such as South Korea.