By Raymart Escopel
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is now preparing Kalibo, Aklan as a destination and gateway to various tourist attractions in the region.
In an interview with DOT Assistant Secretary Arturo Boncato, Jr., the national government continues to enhance the points of entry in the country, basically the airports through various programs.
The Kalibo International Airport (now known as Jaime Cardinal Sin International Airport), for example, is currently expanding to accommodate bigger and more foreign aircrafts, Boncato said.
As a matter of fact, he noted that the DOT has a new group called the Root Development Group which looks for airline companies and connect them to potential destinations in the Philippines.
“The Singapore-Kalibo and vice versa flight of SilkAir is one concrete result of what the Root Development Group has done,” he mentioned.
SilkAir, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines now flies to Kalibo. The Singapore-Kalibo flight of the said airline was inaugurated on May 27.
“Rapid growth of international connections to Kalibo indicates a huge desire for the foreign market to come and enjoy this part of the country,” he said.
“Boracay is the number one magnet, but we in DOT would also want to develop the whole region as destination for travellers,” Boncato added.
With that, he noted that enhancement and upgrading of facilities in Kalibo International Airport is indeed necessary to accommodate more travelers as well as extend world-class services.
SilkAir in Kalibo
With the opening of SilkAir’s Singapore-Kalibo and vice versa flights in Kalibo International Airport, Boncato said it will create a lot of impact to tourist arrivals.
“We are very fortunate that SilkAir, one of the best airlines in the world, finally decided to expand their network in the Philippines after more than a decade,” he added.
SilkAir’s flight to Kalibo operates thrice a week, departing Singapore every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It leaves Singapore at 10 A.M. and arrives in Kalibo at 1:45 P.M., while return flight leaves Kalibo at 3 P.M. and lands in Singapore at 8:10 P.M./PN
