Tourism Secretary Ace Durano yesterday said that tourism traffic in the country has not been affected by the early onset of rains as flooding occurred mostly in non-tourist destinations.

As an archipelago, he said, bad weather can hit one island or province without affecting the neighboring areas, and as long as weather disturbances are localized, tourism traffic will not be affected.

Durano, who was in Bacolod City yesterday for personal reasons, boarded the maiden flight of the Philippine Airlines Express from Bacolod-Silay Airport to Cebu’s domestic airport.

He also took time to greet passengers at the Silay airport who took the flight from Cebu on board PAL Express.

Durano said the entry of PAL Express in the new airport is a positive development, not only for tourism but for air travel in general, as plane fare to existing destinations will stabilize with more flights and more seats offered.

Meanwhile, PAL manager Job Lamela said that with the Express aircraft, old small stations once served by PAL will be revived with Cebu as the hub.

From Cebu, passengers can take connecting flights to Tacloban, Leyte; Calbayog, Samar; Caticlan, Aklan; General Santos, Zamboanga and Davao, Lamela said.

Presently, PAL Express flies twice from Bacolod to Cebu and vice versa, which is advantageous to businessmen who want to fly back home after completing their transactions in the two cities, he added.

With more choices and destinations offered by PAL Express, air travel is more convenient and accessible, Lamela said.*NAB

back to top