Monday, May 28, 2007 Cebu to see more Chinese guests
MORE Chinese tourists from mainland China will soon be in Cebu since a Chinese airline company, along with a consortium of travel agents, announced direct chartered flights to Cebu .
“We hope that when we open the sky, we increase the benefits for the travel agencies from both cities in terms of tourism and also open business opportunities,” said Yuan Xue Song, China Southern Airlines (CSA) customer sales executive.
CSA will be operating two chartered flights from Cebu to Shanghai and vice versa weekly, beginning July.
Song said Cebu has as a strong potential to attract the Chinese market as a leisure destination, particularly with its pristine white beaches, which provide a venue for watersports and activities, like diving and snorkeling.
However, he admitted that the country needs to further hike its promotional efforts to China, given the limited outbound travelers to the country.
Malaysia and Thailand are among the popular destinations of Chinese travelers, Song added.
“Only Cebu and Manila are popular in China, but not the whole Philippines” he said in Chinese translated to English during a press interview Friday at the Marco Polo Plaza hotel.
Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano lauded CSA and the consortium’s efforts in opening chartered flights to and from Cebu and said “new friendships are born.”
Durano assured the Chinese consortium that tourism stakeholders are doubling their efforts in promoting Cebu and the entire Philippines to China after the government has doubled the tourism budget to P800 million.
Increase
However, he said Chinese nationals visiting the country have already increased to 30 percent last year or a total of 150,000 visitors.
“We hope to increase it to over 200,000 this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Song said once the market is developed, the airline company expects to increase the flight frequencies to five by the end of the year.
“It (chartered flight) needs a bilateral trade agreement between the Philippines and China,” said Patria Aurora Roa, Department of Tourism 7 regional director.
Song said the company is already processing permits for regular commercial flights’ rights through the Civil Aeronautics Board.
“The best is yet to come as far as tourism opportunities between Shanghai and Cebu (are concerned),” said Durano. (MMM)
