CTTA: More Pinoys now eyeing to travel to Japan

CEBU, Philippines - Now one of the most affordable destinations coupled with easy VISA processing, Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA) officials said Japan is now becoming one of the preferred destinations among Filipinos.

Used to be considered as one of the most expensive destinations in Asia, the crumbling value of yen makes Japan cheaper nowadays, said CTTA president Angelita "Baby" C. Dy.

Taiwan, China, as well as Vietnam and Cambodia are few of the emerging destination favorites of traveling Filipinos, said Dy.

In the domestic front, sites like Batanes, Palawan and El Nido are among the popular picks for the travel-conscious generation.

Dy added that due to cheaper rates overseas, Filipinos are now more interested to travel.

CTTA and its 23 members will be holding a three-day travel packages sale dubbed  "Cebu Travel Catalogue 2016" on January 29 to 31 at the Ayala Center Cebu. The event will feature the cheapest outbound travel packages for both local and international destinations participated by major airline companies.

Joan Young-Tiu, general manager of Wander Lanes Travel Co., Inc., said the "Cebu Travel Catalogue 2016" is also staged by the players to help Cebuanos in particular to properly plan out their vacation.

Online bookings are there to provide easier access and information, but when it comes to details on attractive and exclusive offerings, travel agencies are on the edge, they said.

According to Aida Uy of Fortune Travel, the special package perks that will be offered during the three-day travel sale are exclusive only for this particular occasion.

Uy said that while online bookings also offer cheaper rates, special events like the travel catalogue will highlight cheaper packages, working hand in hand with airlines and operators in respective destinations.

A regular seven-day travel to Japan (all-in) would cost an average of US$2,000, whereas with the travel sale, tourists can get the same travel itinerary at a lesser cost.

Airline companies that are participating in the travel sale include, among others, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Silk Air, Korean Airlines, Air Asia, Eva Airlines, and Philippine Airlines.  (FREEMAN)