WHY not Cebu also?
That is Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Robert Go’s appeal to budget airlines from Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand that are coming to the Philippines but only at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Field, Pampanga and at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
Tiger Air will fly to Clark Field three times a week from Singapore from May 1 to June 30 for only S$25.98. Another Singaporean budget carrier, Jetstar Asia, will fly daily to the Naia from April 27 to June 30 for only S$99 or around P3,300.
Malaysia’s Air Asia will also launch this month flights to Clark Field from Kuala Lumpur with a one-way price of about P1,998 and from Kota Kinabalu, for around P1,798.
These rates make traveling from Manila to some Asian countries cheaper than flying from Manila to Cebu, which costs around P3,300.
“We must also consider inviting international budget airlines to come to Cebu. It’s one of the concerns I brought up in the recent Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 meeting I attended,” said Go, also RDC 7 co-chairman.
CCCI plans to encourage other agencies, like the Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation and Communications, and the Department of Trade and Industry, to work with other sectors in addressing this concern.
Go cited the need to give incentives, which is one of the reasons why international budget airlines chose the Clark airport. “They have many exemptions and incentives in airport fees. We should also do the same,” said Go in a telephone interview Thursday.
Cebu Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, who heads the tourism committee, believes having international budget airlines will help the local economy.
“(But) That depends on the airlines, if they will consider coming to Cebu. But we are doing our job to support our local tourism industry. We will always welcome opportunities that will help boost our economy by improving our tourism. Having international budget airlines (coming) to Cebu would be a great deal,” Magpale said.
Aside from luring tourists to visit the country, the cheap fares will also give locals a chance to travel abroad, said Charles Lim, tourism consultant of Selrahco Management Services, a marketing and corporate communications consulting company specializing in the travel and tourism industry.
“These budget airlines will help boost our national tourism, regardless of where it will land and what region will benefit. The government should support them by giving them incentives in landing fees and other terminal fees,” he said.
“Our local people will also be encouraged to travel overseas. Though these budget airlines have no frills, like free meals and other add-ons, they will give people the chance to travel abroad,” he added. (ALC/SunStar Cebu)
