ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas urged airline companies to increase the number of flights, both international and domestic, to and from Iloilo Airport.
In his letter to the Philippine Airlines, Air Asia and Cebu Pacific, the city mayor said more flights will provide more convenience to travellers, boost the tourism industry, and contribute to the prosperity of the local community.
Treñas further cited the influx of requests from overseas Filipino workers and constituents with outbound flights to Singapore and Hong Kong whose travel needs are unmet caused by long queues at the Bureau of Immigration counters and exorbitant travel expenses associated with multiple bookings on connecting flights.
“It is really time for airlines to look at Iloilo, to see that we are moving forward. We are getting a lot of visitors,” he stressed.
He added efficient and accessible air travel is crucial in supporting the growth of the economy, particularly in these times when Iloilo City is welcoming an influx of visitors for conferences and events.
Just recently, 900 barangays from Batangas visited Iloilo for a conference but had a hard time booking their flights.
The city mayor noted while tourism continues to be one of the sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, the economic landscape in this southern city perceives a continuing travel boom to the Asia-Pacific Region.
“It would seemingly show that demand for travel has not dampened consumers looking to make up for time lost to COVID-19 pandemic. Amid the ongoing health crisis, Ilonggos have rebounded strongly and increased the demand for international travel. All these considered, the tourism industry here is on the road to recovery,” Treñas added./PN
