More Korean tourists expected with new services agreement

Airport management firm GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) is looking forward to the increase of Korean flights to the Philippines following the signing of the new air services agreement by the Philippines and South Korea recently.

Aines Librodo, head of GMCAC’s airline marketing, is excited that Cebu gets to capture a good share of these direct flights, which will bring more Korean tourists to the key tourism destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao.

She said that while GMCAC is doubling its efforts to court other markets, the expanded air services agreements with Korea is seen to boost the growing tourism industry of the country.

Librodo added that Cebu is ready to welcome the influx of tourists in the months ahead, with the opening of Terminal 2 in June 2018 and the opening of the newly- renovated domestic airport a year after.

The Philippines and South Korea signed a new air services agreement last Nov. 8, which gives each country 20,000 seats per week between Manila and all international airports in South Korea.

The new memorandum of agreement (MOA) also provides unlimited traffic rights for the authorized airlines of both countries between all international airports in the Philippines outside Manila and all international airports in Korea.

Civil Aeronautics Board Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla in a news report said that the expanded air traffic rights in Manila is intended to address the increased demand for air services between Manila and Korea, while the unlimited air traffic rights outside Manila is in line with Philippines’ policy to develop airports outside Manila and spur the economic development of new tourism, trade and economic centers outside the capital.

At present, there are about six Korean carriers that fly to Cebu —Jeju Air, Jin Air, Asiana, Korean Air, Air Busan, and T’way.

The last air talks between the Philippines and South Korea were held in late 2015, which increased entitlements by 3,000 seats to 31,500 seats per week.

Korea remains Central Visayas’ biggest tourist market. In the first five months of the year, the region welcomed 350,317 Koreans versus last year’s arrivals of 330,522. /