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[av_heading heading=’Boracay targets fly-cruise market’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017
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KALIBO, Aklan – Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores sees huge growth potential and strategic advantage with the fly-cruise tourism partnership between the provincial government and cruise operator Royal Carribean Cruises Ltd (RCCL).
Fly and cruise packages allow tourists to explore Boracay Island and other destinations in Panay for several days near the Caticlan port of call before or after the cruise.
RCCL expressed interest in “exploring and studying the viability of establishing and operating cruise ship berthing facilities in Aklan.”
The cruise operator will make Caticlan and Boracay Island as their home port for cruising business in Southeast Asia, the governor said.
The cruise liner entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on information exchange with the province of Aklan on March 14, 2017 at Fort Lauderdale in Florida as part of its deployment of cruise ships in Asia.
The MOU intends to develop collaboration and share information on investment opportunities, environmental, social, statistics, topographical and economic data for a feasibility study. It also includes the proposal of a multi-year development project.
Miraflores said the provincial government is committed to develop cruise infrastructure in Caticlan, the main jump-off to Boracay Island, to accommodate larger ships.
“Two ports will be constructed in Caticlan reclamation area to expand the port length and depth. The proposal for port expansion will be submitted to the Department of Transportation (DoTr) for construction next year,” the governor stressed.
The future fly-cruise industry in Boracay will tap the tourists from China and other Asian market to fly into Kalibo and to board the cruises in Caticlan.
Currently, Kalibo International Airport accommodates 36 international flights a day from mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
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