Closure of two casinos in Subic reduced number of arrivals from Taiwan
MECO acts to correct drop in arrivals
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) is beefing up promotions to attract more tourists from Taiwan. The closure of two casinos in Subic has reduced the number of arrivals from Taiwan.
Gerard Panga, Philippine tourism representative to Taiwan, said MECO is looking forward to the launch of the Manila-Taipei service of Gokongwei-owned Cebu Air Inc. (CEB) by the end of the month in time for the winter break of Taiwanese tourists.
Panga said CEB’s budget rates will attract more Filipino workers in Taiwan to visit their families.
The no-frills airline is the country’s second biggest carrier and would add to the current 39 flights a week between the Philippines and Taiwan.
CEB is still in the process of securing the necessary permits and licenses from the Civil Aeronautics Board.
It would be recalled that the cessation of flights in the late 1990s for more than a year between Manila and Taipei has slashed the number of Taiwanese tourists by roughly 6,000.
Panga said the declaration of a state of emergency in early 2006 also led to about 1,000 Taiwanese tourists dropping their plans to visit the country.
Last year, two casinos in Subic closed down. Legenda stopped operations last May and Diamond, last September.
For this reason, Panga estimates tourism arrivals from Taiwan in 2006 fell to 117,000 from 123,000 in 2005. In 2004, some 114,000 Taiwanese tourists arrived in the Philippines.
This year, the Philippine tourism office expects a seven percent increase in tourist arrivals from Taiwan.
At 38 flights a week, the Philippines pales in comparison with its neighbors such as Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
According to Panga, the Philippine carriers are limited to Manila although this could be used as a sub-gateway for other destinations. One Taiwanese airline, Far Eastern, flies from Subic to Kaohsiung.
Panga said government is also promoting Bacolod as a new tourism site with the upgrade of the airport. A tour of the Cojuangco orchard in Bacolod, where fruit picking will be allowed, is also being considered as one of the attractions.
Panga also said Busuanga where major investments in ecotourism and airpor are being poured is also another destination.
If CEB pushes through with its Taipei flights, it will the company’s latest regional destination next to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Cebu Pacific also flies to Incheon, South Korea via Subic.
By IRMA ISIP - MALAYA
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) is beefing up promotions to attract more tourists from Taiwan. The closure of two casinos in Subic has reduced the number of arrivals from Taiwan.
Gerard Panga, Philippine tourism representative to Taiwan, said MECO is looking forward to the launch of the Manila-Taipei service of Gokongwei-owned Cebu Air Inc. (CEB) by the end of the month in time for the winter break of Taiwanese tourists.
Panga said CEB’s budget rates will attract more Filipino workers in Taiwan to visit their families.
The no-frills airline is the country’s second biggest carrier and would add to the current 39 flights a week between the Philippines and Taiwan.
CEB is still in the process of securing the necessary permits and licenses from the Civil Aeronautics Board.
It would be recalled that the cessation of flights in the late 1990s for more than a year between Manila and Taipei has slashed the number of Taiwanese tourists by roughly 6,000.
Panga said the declaration of a state of emergency in early 2006 also led to about 1,000 Taiwanese tourists dropping their plans to visit the country.
Last year, two casinos in Subic closed down. Legenda stopped operations last May and Diamond, last September.
For this reason, Panga estimates tourism arrivals from Taiwan in 2006 fell to 117,000 from 123,000 in 2005. In 2004, some 114,000 Taiwanese tourists arrived in the Philippines.
This year, the Philippine tourism office expects a seven percent increase in tourist arrivals from Taiwan.
At 38 flights a week, the Philippines pales in comparison with its neighbors such as Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
According to Panga, the Philippine carriers are limited to Manila although this could be used as a sub-gateway for other destinations. One Taiwanese airline, Far Eastern, flies from Subic to Kaohsiung.
Panga said government is also promoting Bacolod as a new tourism site with the upgrade of the airport. A tour of the Cojuangco orchard in Bacolod, where fruit picking will be allowed, is also being considered as one of the attractions.
Panga also said Busuanga where major investments in ecotourism and airpor are being poured is also another destination.
If CEB pushes through with its Taipei flights, it will the company’s latest regional destination next to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Cebu Pacific also flies to Incheon, South Korea via Subic.
By IRMA ISIP - MALAYA
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