ONE hundred ninety-four Koreans arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport on Christmas Day to spend their holidays in the province.

Their flight, the first of the twice-weekly direct flights from Korea, touched down 2:05 a.m.

Most of the tourists will be on a golf holiday in Bacolod.

Bacolod City Representative Evelio Leonardia, who welcomed the Koreans at the airport, said these direct flights mark a new era as it launches Bacolod tourism in a more accelerated pace.

The Korean golf holidays will last about six weeks, Leonardia said, adding that the flights are expected to bring in 2,328 Korean tourists.

“This will also show us the challenges of international tourism, to see where our vulnerabilities are and address them,” he said.

Leonardia and congressional tourism consultant John Orola were joined by officials of Philippine Airlines, Bureau of Customs, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Most of the flights will come from Incheon while some flights might also come from Seoul, Orola said.