Open air policy set to boost tourism in Manila

The Filipino government has adopted a full air access policy and is now looking to increase tourism in Manila.

The open sky policy is set to increase tourism as well as create new jobs and encourage economic growth in the region. In a recent live interview on Sunday morning with 990AM, Tourism Secretary Albertio Lim stated, “The success of the tourism industry is in the realisation of EO 29, together with the full implementation of the tourism infrastructure plans of President Aquino.”

“The next ‘big steps’ which the Aquino administration are pursuing to implement these plans include developing and improving our airports, attracting investments in tourism establishments, upgrading our unique products and services, and addressing the security risks identified by the US Federal Aviation Authority to upgrade the country back to Category 1,” Lim continued.

The open sky policy is part of the government’s plan to increase economic growth and tourism in the Philippines and to increase its competitiveness as a destination for investment. The Tourism Secretary has also encouraged airlines from outside of the Philippines to take advantage of the new policy to encourage economic growth.

“Without this, the targets of attracting over six million tourists, collecting $18.5 billion in tourism receipts, and creating three million new tourism jobs by 2016 will likely just end up as – like many other ambitious goals in the past – missed targets,” Lim stated in regards to opening up the open sky policy to overseas airlines.

“The economic potential of the policy, especially in bringing in more tourists resulting to the generation of new jobs and the stimulation of the local economy, is the “reciprocal benefit” of the open skies policy, which it is expected to affect millions of Filipinos,” explained Lim.

It is thought that the creation of additional jobs at the airport and within in the tourism industry will boost the numbers of Filipinos renting within the region. The government in the Philippines’ continual drive to increase economic growth is yet one of the many reasons why many investors are purchasing investment apartments in Manila.

Tagged As: Manila tourism, open air policy, Philippines Economy