The Philippines has increased its international and domestic routes, significantly improving access for travel.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said its Routes Development report for June showed eight of the country’s international gateways saw a significant growth in terms of incoming frequencies and seats per week.
The DOT also noted a significant jump in domestic connectivity in the country’s tourism gateways, gaining from at least 17 city pairs, with about 83 incoming weekly frequencies
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said in a statement these favorable developments on air connectivity benefit tourism.
The DOT earlier entered into a convergence with the Department of Transportation , and collaborated with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and other aviation stakeholders in determining measures that will promote seamless travel experience, including the improvement of gateways, enhancement of infrastructure, and maximization of the country’s aviation hubs, among others.
The DOT’s route development initiatives sought the support of international and local air carriers through international aviation networking, and business-to-business activities.
The DOT’s Routes Development report showed for instance, on a weekly average, compared to June 2022, Clark in June 2023 saw an increase of 180 percent in terms of incoming scheduled frequencies and 215 percent in terms of incoming seats, while Manila saw an increase of 75 percent in terms of incoming frequencies and 120 percent in terms of incoming seats.
In Visayas, Kalibo recorded a 640 percent increase in incoming frequencies and 409 percent increase in incoming seats, Cebu with an increase of 300 percent in terms of incoming frequencies and 297 percent in terms of incoming seats, and Bohol with an increase of 200 percent in terms of incoming frequencies and 128 percent in terms of incoming seats.
Davao saw a 50 percent increase in incoming frequencies, and 38 percent increase in incoming seats. Meanwhile, Caticlan and Cagayan North recorded six frequencies from Taipei, and two frequencies from Macau, respectively.
Between June and July , the country welcomed 58 new incoming weekly frequencies from various origin cities into the country’s international gateways.
New domestic air routes that were instituted during this period, including flights between Cebu-Baguio , Cebu-Borongan and Cebu-Naga.
Among the domestic flights that resumed in the same period include: Clark to Bacolod, Busuanga, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Davao, Iloilo, General Santos, and Puerto Princesa; Manila to Tablas, and Lal-o; Davao to Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, and Siargao, and vice versa; and Zamboanga to Cotabato.
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