The Department of Tourism (DOT) will push for the resumption of direct flights between Manila and London in response to the clamor of the Filipino community in the United Kingdom (UK).
Frasco on November 4 held a dialogue with some 60 representatives of the Filipino community during the Kapihan sa Pasuguan.
The DOT in a statement said the Filipino community also asked Frasco to address existing issues and impending threats to tourists such as difficulties in complying with entry requirements; need for clean restrooms; scams; and data privacy concerns.
Frasco said the DOT has ongoing efforts to coordinate with airlines including Philippine Airlines (PAL) on the resumption of Manila-London flights.
“What I can assure you is that the effort will continue,” said Frasco, noting some of the positive outcomes of the DOT’s engagement with PAL, including the airline’s mounting of flights from Bangkok to Cebu, and Baguio to Cebu starting December.
To address the concerns over the growing number of reports of scams against tourists, Frasco gave the Filipino Community in London an overview of the Tourist Assistance Call Center that the DOT will soon launch to address the concerns of tourists while they are traveling around the Philippines.
Frasco also apprised the attendees of the Philippine government’s introduction of the simpler and more convenient eARRIVAL card.
