Korean investor calls for more inbound flights to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Korean investor in Cebu are requesting for more flights from Korea and other foreign countries to Cebu to give boost to the already increasing number of tourist arrivals in the province and in the whole country in general.

Imperial Palace Waterpark and Spa General Manager Richie Kang said that they are hoping that the Department of Tourism would address the need for more flights coming in to Cebu.

Kang said during the weekly 888 news forum in Marco Polo Plaza Hotel that at present there are already flights from different airline companies like Korean Air however there is still a need for more.

He said that for Imperial Palace, almost 50 percent of their guests are Koreans while 25 percent are Japanese, Chinese and Europeans while 25 percent are locals.

These numbers are continually increasing said Kang since they go to different countries and promote not only their Imperial Waterpark but Cebu and the Philippines as well.

For the Korean market, Kang said that it decreased in the past year by 15 percent due to the economic crisis plus the A H1N1 scare in September to November.

However, he said that they have seen the numbers go up by December, which is also the summer break for Koreans, and since a lot of Korean parents send their kids to Cebu to learn English.

According to Kang, it is relatively cheaper for parents to send their kids to Cebu than to have it in Korea . He said that the presence of the students here, who spend a maximum of three to four months for their classes, go to Imperial Palace before they go back to Korea or when their parents visit them.

He also pointed out that Koreans see Cebu as one of the safest provinces.

Department of Tourism Senior Adviser Phineas Alburo said that with the help of the new tourism act or the RA 9593, the need for more flights would certainly be looked into especially with DOT Secretary Ace Durano appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Civil Aviation Board as per the new tourism act.

Alburo added that they are “optimistic but cautious” on a better tourism performance for 2010 despite a not fully recovered economy yet due to the global economic crisis.

In fact, he said that there is better performance now, arrival wise, and indicates a good year for the tourism industry.

Jenny Franco, the Vice President for Visayas for the Tourism Congress said that the matter of adding more flights for major destinations was even part of their strategic planning in the tourism board.

Franco said that this will certainly be given due attention especially since they have the Cebu Interline Association with them which could represent the private sector from the airline industry in Cebu . 

The increasing tourists arrivals in the province would also be accommodated well said Senior Adviser Alburo with more hotels opening.

He said that also with Imperial Palace opening up, the 556 rooms are a welcome addition to the 14 thousand rooms all over Cebu.— AJ de la Torre