BEIJING — The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Chinese state-owned Guangxi Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd. will mount chartered flights directly between Guangxi province and Clark in Pampanga province.
Additional chartered flights will also be launched to Cebu and Davao from Guangxi province.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, who was with President Duterte’s entourage for the “Belt and Road Forum” said the chartered flights add to the list of air carriers that directly service 13 Chinese cities for trips to Manila, Kalibo Cebu and Laoag.
“This undertaking will open up secondary gateways in the Philippines to the Chinese market and bring in additional tourists from mainland China,” Teo said.
Teo said the deal is a “win-win” situation for the two parties as the DOT can identify the ideal destinations and packages for the Chinese groups while the latter’s vast marketing network opens more opportunities for us.
“We are excited about Guangxi’s commitment, as we tap its 55 million population of what is considered the Asian center of economy and finance,” she noted.
Meanwhile, tour operator Sun Fair International, which has offices in Xiamen and Hong Kong, has already committed additional 10 thousand Chinese tourists coming from the cities of Shanghai, Xiamen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Hong Kong, and Beijing, starting this month.
According to Marisa Te Eng Fo of Sun Fair International, the additional 10 thousand Chinese tourists make up a diverse group of leisure travelers, divers and adventure seekers to rollers, businessmen, culinary travelers to shoppers, and even employees on company paid tours.
The proposed local destinations include Manila, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Surigao, Subic, Negros Occidental, following the Secretary’s directive.