1,200 AVIATION EXECS FROM ASIA PACIFIC

GATHER IN CEBU FOR 17TH ROUTES ASIA

Cebu welcomes about 1,200 delegates from the Asia Pacific region over three days as the 17th Routes Asia kicked off in the “Queen City of the South,” the Philippines’ second hosting after Manila in 2016. Representatives from over 100 airlines, 200 airports and 30 tourism authorities are gathering under one roof in one of the region’s biggest strategy summits to plan future destinations and increase air services. Routes Asia 2019 is jointly hosted by the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA). A healthy discussion and engagement about the opportunities, challenges and key market trends in the aviation industry take centerstage as 20 speakers composed of top airline chief executive officers (CEOs) and senior decision makers as well as top aviation industry leaders grace the three-day event on March 10 to 12 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, the summit’s official hotel partner. Routes Asia 2019 will boost Cebu’s footing as a gateway to the rest of the Philippines and as a major hub in Southeast Asia that connects travelers to the different points of the world. The hosting comes as Cebu opened the gates of the P17-billion Terminal 2 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on July 1, 2018, during which the airport was dubbed the only “resort airport in Asia.” MCIA became the benchmark of what a public private partnership (PPP) can do a destination which is now enjoying more than eight million tourist arrivals as of 2018. “The opening of the new international terminal follows a highly successful partnership with the private sector positioning the airport for rapid growth and making the MCIA a model for other airports in the Philippines and throughout Asia as potential PPP opportunities are evaluated,” said MCIAA general manager Steve Dicdican. A province of prosperity, Cebu is fast becoming one of the most developed areas in the Philippines as its capital, Cebu City, serves as the center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas region. This progression, along with the province’s historical landmarks and its hosting of some of the world’s most idyllic islands, has established Cebu as the perfect destination for tourists to discover the harmonious co-existence of history, culture and modernity. But as with other progressive cities, direct connectivity to the rest of the world plays a crucial role. Instrumental to Cebu’s healthy economic growth story is MCIA’s connectivity to major destinations within Asia Pacific, which is only three to four hours of travel. MCIA’s annual traffic reached 11.5 million passengers in 2018, while its total passenger traffic grew at a consistent rate of some 14 percent in the past three years. It accelerated by 15 percent in 2018. The airport has likewise attracted eight new foreign airlines over the last three years and is currently served by 16 foreign carriers. MCIA’s network has expanded rapidly, and is currently linked to 24 international and 33 domestic destinations. Besides becoming an important engine of Cebu’s economic growth, helping trade and tourism grow, Dicdican said they want the airport to be socially relevant. Dicdican said they want MCIA be designed to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response with the ability to handle emergency situations. MCIA is a recipient of several awards such as the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) awards for Asia Pacific’s Small Airport of the Year for 2016 and Medium Airport of the Year for 2018 and was lauded for establishing itself as a leader and doing the most to advance the progress of the aviation industry. With its membership in Airport Council International (ACI), MCIAA commits to the pursuit of its mission to run a passenger-friendly airport, compliant with international civil aviation standards, that connects Cebu to the world. “Mactan-Cebu International Airport is on track towards achieving our vision of becoming one of Asia’s Passenger Friendliest Airports by 2030,” said Dicdican. Truly, hosting the Routes Asia would mean fueling international growth not only in Cebu but also the rest of the Philippines. The Philippine Department of Tourism says more new routes mean more travel options for international visitors, and more international visitors mean more opportunities for the locals.