Cheap flights cause tourist influx in small PH islands
An official from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that "among other things," cheap flights and the hype on social media cause the increase in tourist arrivals in certain Philippine islands that may not yet be ready for such influx.
But Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said it's the local government unit (LGU) officials who should adjust, not the airlines.
This, as the upcoming total closure of Boracay Island triggered questions as to what is causing the overcrowding in certain tourism destinations like Siargao and Palawan — which are prone to suffer the same environmental issues that turned Boracay into a "cesspool," as what President Rodrigo Duterte had put it.
"It's a chicken and egg situation," Arcilla said in a phone interview.
Ultimately, he said that airlines, even if they offer cheap flights to the aforementioned destinations, can't be blamed for the increasing number of tourists because they only cater to demand.
If the government closes down an island, the way it will do to Boracay, then the demand for air transport will go down. That's when airlines will start reducing flights in these areas but not necessarily stop it, Arcilla said.
In the case of Siargao — which also had its fair share of controversy — a local government official was recently quoted saying in a news report that tourists should temporarily stop going to the island as the LGU is not yet prepared to cater to so much visitors.
Just in March, Philippine Airlines (PAL) has launched maiden flights between Davao and Siargao as part of its continuing expansion in the ‘King City of the South.’
Last year, low cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Cebgo, also increased its flight frequencies to Siargao.
When asked if airlines are required to consult with communities before they can open a flight in certain areas, Environment Undersecretary Maria Paz Luna said "the DOT [Department of Tourism] talks with airlines but I am not aware of them consulting communities when they open new flights."
Then she agreed that opening of cheap flights in communities like Siargao result to overcrowding of tourists in these areas.
"[That], among many reasons. Social media is a major one," she added.
Luna said that "not just with airlines" but LGUs must first consult communities before they promote their areas as tourism destinations.
"They need cultural and heritage mapping and a participative master plan. This is true not only with airlines but also new roads going into sensitive ecosystems. [They must also identify the] carrying capacity [of their areas]," she further said.
But Arcilla maintained the overcrowding of tourists in certain islands like Boracay and Siargao is "not an aviation issue" but part of LGU's responsibility.
"It's an open market. Airlines are free to enter the market. It's the LGUs who should regulate [the influx of tourists in their areas]."
Saying that the airline industry is "market-driven", Arcilla said that it depends on the airline to study a market and if there's a potential, they are the ones who spend the money to develop a route and promote a destination.
"LGU should regulate," Arcilla said, also referring to the recommendation to shutdown Boracay, which was just approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.
"Connectivity is a sign of social progress," he added. "[Handing environment issues and influx of tourists] is not airlines' responsibility but of the local government's".
CAB is the agency of the government mandated to regulate the economic aspect of air transportation.
Yesterday, PAL and CEB announced that they will temporarily stop carrying Boracay-bound tourists, while the government implements the six-month total closure of the island to pave the way for its rehabilitation.