Cebu to host int'l routes forum in 2019

CEBU - Cebu province in central Philippines has been selected to host the 2019 edition of Routes Asia, the largest routes development forum in the region, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

It said that UBM World Routes Brand Director Steven Small confirmed the news at the sidelines of this year's World Routes 2017 Forum in Barcelona, Spain.

Manila hosted the 2016 edition of Routes Asia, which brings together leading airlines, airports and their stakeholders to discuss air services to, from and within Asia.

It was attended by 1,200 international and local delegates composed of airlines, airports, tourism authorities and aviation data providers.

“We are very optimistic to witness the robust growth of Philippine aviation and tourism especially in Central Visayas with the huge opportunity that comes from hosting Routes Asia 2019 in Cebu,” Teo said in a statement.

Teo further said that the DOT foresees significant gains similar to the results that arose from having the same forum in Manila last year

Mactan-cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Steve Dicdican, for his part, is hopeful that Cebu’s hosting of Routes Asia would “exceed expectations.”

“We are extremely excited to host Routes Asia 2019 and we hope to exceed the expectations and give a record-breaking experience that will highlight the province’s charm and hospitality,” Dicdican said.

Meanwhile, Teo said that a total of 482,196 additional international air seats will be brought in from January to December 2017 as a result of the agency’s aggressive air talks and negotiations last year.

Teo said that these air seats will come from Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, and foreign airlines China Eastern, Sichuan, Xiamen and Shenzhen.

A partial report released by the DOT in Central Visayas showed that Cebu welcomed close to 1.5 million visitors from January and April 2017, an increase of 4.16 percent from 1.43 million visitors during the same four-month period in 2016.

Cebu, with its flagship gateway Mactan-cebu International Airport, is a major air hub with direct flights abroad and numerous connections to other major destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao.