Regional open skies not a cure, says NGO

Regional open skies will not bring in tourists, according to the Save Our Skies (SOS).

The aviation watchdog which advocates ”No to unfair skies” made this reaction to the recently signed agreement by the 10-member Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) to pave the way for open skies in the region.

“Open skies is not a panacea (to the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines,” SOS president Dr. Robert Lim Joseph said.

Joseph, the honorary consul of Latvia to the Philippines, said there are countries that attract a big number of tourists even without open skies relationships with other nations.

He said that this is because these countries have the tourism infrastructure and excellent facilities, attractive destinations, accessible roads, good peace and order situation, and a positive image.

“Even without open skies if the Philippines is ready with its tourism infrastructure and facilities and it has a positive image abroad, tourists would come,” Joseph said.

He said that several foreign airlines from Europe, the US, and Asia have access to the Philippines, but still would not use their entitlement because there is no market or enough passengers to and from the Philippines. In fact, they abandoned Manila such as Aeroflot, Air France, Swiss Air, British Airways, Lufthansa, Alitalia, and Sabena.

Joseph said the fifth freedom right being considered for airlines of Asean member countries must only be confined to Asean cities or destinations only if the intention is to stimulate travel and tourism within the region.

The Philippines is disadvantaged because countries with small population are given same privileges with those with big population and Philippine carriers, which are privately owned, have to compete with government-owned airlines of other Asean countries such as Singapore Airlines which enjoy state subsidies and financial support, he said.

Thus, Joseph said, in a price war, Philippine carriers would lose. Already, even international airlines with bigger financial resources and bigger market base, like Alitalia, Swiss Air, British Airways, and Air India, have cut back their operations and their employees due to losses.