Phillipines Cebu Pacific Air eyes India foray

Philippines low cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air, is looking to foray in India by 2014 or 2015, a Department of Tourism (DOT), an official said today.

"We know Philippines airlines has plans to enter the market, and Cebu Pacific a Philippine carrier already at the moment is looking into slots for available flights into India probably in 2014 or 2015," Director Market Development Group, Department of Tourism, Philippines, Verna C Buensuceso told reporters here today.

"The average tourist inflows from India to Philippines between January to May this year has been 22 per cent higher as compared to the corresponding period a year ago," she said.

The Philippines recorded 46,395 visitor arrivals from India during the period January to December 2012.

"In 2013, we are looking at 50 per cent growth over last year's arrival figures," Buensuceso said, on sidelines of first in the series of roadshows organised by DOT in India here for tourism promotion.

DOT, which is looking to attract more tourists from India, will be organising its next roadshow in Hyderabad.

Thereafter, in Chennai and Bangalore.  Led by Buensuceso, Director, Market Development Group, India DOT, the delegation includes leading travel and tour operator from Philippines like Art Travel Express Inc., Annset Holiday Inc., Manila Hotel, Select Travel Services and Shroff Travel Care International, among others. Out of around 4.4 million tourists that visited Philippines in 2012, over 46,000 were from India.