CEBU Pacific announced daily direct international flights from Kalibo, Aklan to Incheon, South Korea and vice versa starting October 1, 2016.
Department of Tourism Regional Director Helen Catalbas said the airline’s decision will promptly place the region in the international map and a boon to the region’s steady tourism growth.
Catalbas added that Western Visayas is one of the regions with highest share to the country’s earnings from tourism in 2015 largely contributed by tourists going to Boracay Island.
This newly-added direct flight is a manifestation that more Korean tourists recognize Western Visayas as their destination in the Philippines with Kalibo as the nearest gateway to Boracay Island, Catalbas said.
Kalibo International Airport caters chartered flights daily from Incheon to Kalibo.
Other chartered and direct flights to Kalibo come from Pusan, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Taipei, Quing Jao, Beijing, Changsa, Peiking, Hong Kong and Singapore with Philippine Airlines, Silk Air, Tiger Air, China Airlines and Cebu Pacific as air carriers.
Korea is still Western Visayas’ top foreign market followed by China and Taiwan.