Is it really more fun in the Philippines?

For those of us who have had the opportunity to go around the Philippines and traveled to many parts of the world — we can all agree: it can really be more fun in the Philippines with its beautiful beaches, great dive sites and breathtaking countryside — with most Filipinos described as one of the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world according to a recent survey by an international flight comparison site.

In fact, those of us who have been to Palawan, Boracay, Donsol, Davao, Camiguin, Bohol, Sagada and even the little-known places across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have been awed by the natural wonders that this country has been blessed with. But why is it that the Philippines continues to be a “laggard” in terms of attracting tourists, with the less than four million foreign visitors recorded last year — way below the double-digits averaged by our neighbors like Thailand (17 million visitors) or Malaysia (25 million visitors)?

The most obvious reason is the lack of infrastructure support such as good roads and bridges (compounded by the dearth of convenient stops with clean toilets for the duration of the trip) and little if no helpful brochures available that would tell visitors how to get to a destination. But a major part of the problem would be the inadequacies presented by our airports. Based on world tourism information, the Philippines has only 10 airports categorized as “international” with NAIA being the primary gateway, while the rest are domestic airports mostly graded as “feeders.”

Sadly, NAIA has achieved a certain degree of infamy as the “worst” airport in the world. The good news is that DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas is doing something about it. But in the meantime, locals and foreigners alike complain about sluggish procedures with time-consuming security checks, which aggravate the overcrowding with PAL domestic and international passengers practically lumped together in the same area. All of these make it very inconvenient for visitors especially for first timers who would likely only remember the unpleasantness.

The worst part is — the Category 2 rating by the US FAA has not been lifted. An IATA-travel agency owner observed that a major victim of the downgrade has been PAL because it cannot utilize its newly-acquired Boeing 777 aircraft that were intended for additional flights to the US. Curiously enough, safety does not appear to be an issue because US carriers continue to fly into the Philippines, and it’s very likely that United and Delta Airlines will jump in to fill the gap should PAL decide to cut off flights to the US, the travel agent said. Ironically, other local carriers (like Cebu Pacific) would not be allowed to take up the slack precisely because the US authorities will just simply invoke the Category 2 rating — reinforcing suspicions that the downgrade has more to do with international politics, rather than safety concerns. Unfortunately, Europe has followed suit, declaring in 2010 that Philippine carriers will not be allowed entry to European airports due to “safety concerns.”

The entry of SMC equities into PAL is a welcome development. The infusion of new management with fresh ideas will most likely improve PAL. For one, the plan of SMC president Ramon S. Ang to build a new airport in Bulacan as reported by fellow STAR columnist Boo Chanco can bring in more tourists, not to mention that it can help decongest NAIA whose navigational radars and other equipment need a lot of upgrading. The proximity of squatter areas near NAIA is a complication that a new airport in Bulacan will most likely not have, and we can safely assume that state-of-the-art facilities and equipment with expansive runways will provide smoother takeoff and landing even at night.

It really makes more sense to have an alternative gateway that is close to Metro Manila, and since it would take years before Ramon Ang’s vision will materialize, perhaps government can complement this by constructing a high-speed rail connection to facilitate travel to the airport and make life more convenient and bearable for passengers whether they’re flying in or out of the country. Meantime, perhaps government should also seriously consider suggestions to eventually turn NAIA into a major domestic hub and make Clark (Clark International Airport or CIA) our primary international airport with the construction of an additional parallel runway and a terminal that can accommodate as much as 20 million passengers a year.

Another welcome development is that an international airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental is expected to be operational early next year (after almost 20 years of delay) and will serve Northern Mindanao, in particular the areas of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. The Laguindingan International Airport is reportedly state-of-the-art (complete with a wastewater treatment facility) and can handle A300 and B737 aircraft. The terminal will handle an initial capacity of 800,000 passengers and expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2020 after expansion is completed — thereby boosting the economy in the region.

Other international airports in Daraga, Albay and Panglao in Bohol will be upgraded while government mulls turning Poro Point Airport in La Union into a world class international gateway. Additionally, four other hubs including one in Northern Cagayan are being planned — all of which could help decongest NAIA/Metro Manila.

Improving airports and other infrastructure with safety and security as a primary objective is a key factor in boosting tourism. But we really still have a long way to go — to truly have “more fun in the Philippines” not only for foreigners but also for Filipinos as well. Let’s hope the current momentum continues.

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