JAPAN-ILOILO FLIGHTS MULLED

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) will try to convince Japanese journalists and travel operators why it’s more fun in Western Visayas.

DOT-6 regional director Helen Catalbas said they will bring Japanese travel agents and media to a familiarization tour before the year ends as part of their strategies in initiating direct flights from Japan to Western Visayas.

Catalbas joined the Philippine Business Mission (PBM) trip to Japan in the last week of May 2013.

The idea of direct flights from Japan came to fore when Catalbas and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel “Manolo” Lopez, whose family hails from Iloilo, spoke during key visits in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya.

The group will be taken to destinations in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

“We have to show them what we can offer. We need to place ourselves in the Japanese consciousness,” Catalbas added.

Catalbas said an estimated 20 million Japanese tour the world but the Philippines only gets 412,000 tourists.

Western Visayas only attracted 12,849 Japanese visitors in 2012.

“We have a very low turnout. These people are big spenders, but they’re also after quality service,” Catalbas said.

The proposed flights from Japan can either land on international airports in Iloilo and Kalibo, Aklan which also host direct flights to and from Hong Kong and Singapore.

“The Japanese wants to directly reach their destination,” Catalbas added.

But the DOT official said it will still be airline companies that will decide on the direct flights.