Speaker backs proposal to allow foreign carriers to land in selected areas

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. expressed support yesterday for the proposal to allow foreign carriers to land in selected tourist destinations.

“We should allow foreign airlines to enter the country but only in selected tourist destinations and other sites that will be developed as tourists’ hubs later on,” Belmonte said.

“The open skies policy doesn’t mean that any foreign carriers can fly to any part of the Philippines. They will be allowed only to enter Philippine skies in partnership with the local airlines like the Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific and others,” he said.

Belmonte said constitutional restrictions limit foreign ownership in transportation companies with congressional franchises to 40 percent.

“Due to prohibition, partnering with local entities is the only way for foreign groups to gain a foothold in the local industry,” he said.

“From Cebu, tourists can easily include in their itinerary the famous beaches of Boracay and Bohol,” he said.

No need for connecting flights

By allowing foreign carriers to fly direct to some tourist destinations in the country, Belmonte explained foreign visitors do not need to spend more for connecting flights to get to their target tourist destinations.

He said tourist sites like Boracay and Cebu are being serviced by some foreign airlines in partnership with the country’s local airlines.

“Cebu and Bohol are two places being frequented by foreign tourists. There is a need to expand these types of tourist destinations and open up more direct flights in other areas of the country,” he said.

During his recent meeting with the French ambassador, Belmonte said he was told that a group of Russian, French and other foreign tourists are planning to visit the country by taking a direct flight from Vladivostok to Cebu.