Bacolod City Rakes In Php 97M From Korean Arrivals Through Charter Flights

Negros Occidental, particularly Bacolod City, raked in about Php 97 million from the arrivals of 2,500 Korean tourists, through almost two months of chartered flights between Negros and South Korea.

The estimate was provided by Bacolod City Rep. Evelio Leonardia during the send-off for the last batch of the Korean guests at the Bacolod-Silay Airport Sunday.

He was joined by congressional consultant on tourism John Orola along with officials of the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Airlines (PAL), and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

“We thank former tourism attaché John Orola and all airport and PAL officials who helped make this trailblazing project a reality,” Leonardia said.

PAL figures showed there were 17 flights from Dec. 25 to Feb. 21.

Leonardia said that with an average of 150 Koreans per flight, this brought the total to 2,500 tourists during the visits organized by Mode Tours, the biggest tour agency in Korea.

“If each one spent at least USD 800 in hotel accommodation, food, shopping, golf fees, tours, and other expenses, that translates to about Php 97 million infused to the local economy,” he added.

Many of the Koreans, who were on golf holiday, brought their wives and children, he added.

The Korean arrivals through chartered flights proved that the airport was ready for international flights, another justification to expand the facilities, Leonardia said.

He added that this would give more impetus for the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to pursue the Php 20-billion Bacolod-Silay Airport expansion and development project under the Public-Private Partnership.

“With these direct flights, we launched Bacolod tourism on a more accelerated pace of development,” Leonardia said. (PNA) RMA/NLG/MPE