More arrivals in Negros Occidental from South Korea

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — More Koreans have arrived and more are expected to arrive until March in Negros Occidental after the start of chartered flights direct from Korea to the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental, officials said.

Last January 7, when the maiden flight of Zest Airways landed here from Inchon, South Korea, carrying 120 Korean tourists, said Ma. Mecine Reyes, officer-in-charge of the airport.

Zest Airways flight Z2 8053 was piloted by Sunny Chan, a graduate of St. John’s Institute in Bacolod. That marked the first international flight of a Philippine-based airline at the Bacolod-Silay airport since the latter started operations on January 18, 2008.

Local officials called the arrival of direct flights from Korea to Negros Occidental a major breakthrough in tourism. “We hope this will be the start of more direct international flights from other countries to Negros Occidental,” Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said.

Last January 11, the second chartered ZestAir flight from Korea landed at the same airport with about 130 tourists on board. Most of the Korean tourists came to play golf and visit various tourist attractions of Negros Occidental.

This will be followed by 14 more flights arriving every Saturday and Wednesday, until March, said Zest Air director Arturo Alejandrino.

In December 2009, ZestAir started with two flights a week to Kalibo, Aklan, and now has 14 a week, landing there from Korea, Taipei and China, he said. “We would like to replicate this in Negros Occidental, which is a beautiful province with a lot to offer,” Alejandrino added.

After Aklan, Bacolod and Negros Occidental came next on Zest Air’s list of tourist destinations in the region, Alejandrino said, adding that the 180-seat Zest Air planes will be initially flying in Korean tourists twice a week. “We hope to increase the number of flights coming in to Negros Occidental from Korea and other areas,” he said.

Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano said that, with the influx of tourists into Negros Occidental, there is a need for networking among LGUs in the province to be ready with their tourism attractions.

Kijung Hong, president of ModeTour, said he hoped for more regular, not just chartered flights, from Korea to Negros Occidental. While Negros Occidental has many tourist attractions, golf is the main purpose of Koreans visiting here, he said.

There are 4 million Korean golfers, and during winter they try to escape to warmer places, he said. Hong said the Koreans who arrived Saturday will stay in Negros Occidental for five days and four nights, while some may stay longer.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, for his part, said: “We have wished for this for so long, it literally connects us to the rest the world.”

Leonardia, a former tourism official himself, said, “Bacolod’s economic progress is on the roll, this will accelerate things for us. Progress begets progress, more tourists will bring in more tourists.”

He said he is re-launching his tourism program called “A Tourist is a Friend,” because tourists contribute to the economy of Bacolod.

“If tourists feel safe and their stay here is pleasant, they will become our walking marketing tools, and that will happen if the community itself will fully support our tourism program and make tourists feel special, safe, secure and at home here,” Leonardia said. (FREEMAN)