DOT welcomes direct flights between France, Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) lauded the announcement from the French embassy that direct flights between France and the Philippines will resume in December.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said it would be the first flight from Manila to Paris in 20 years and will be carried out by Air France KLM on Dec. 8.

The direct flights would be scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, according to earlier reports.

In a statement, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco welcomed the resumption of direct flights between France and the Philippines, saying it would enhance ease of travel and provide much needed connectivity to Europe.

“With France holding the second highest number of visitor arrivals from the European Union, this direct connection will provide unparalleled convenience for travelers, boosting tourism and enabling a more convenient journey to the Philippines,” Frasco said.

She also thanked Air France for the effort, and vowed the Philippines would be “eager to welcome more visitors from France and the European Union, who will discover and love the unique charm of our islands, the warmth of Filipino hospitality and the richness of our culture and heritage.”

She also hoped the Philippines-France direct flight would open more flights from other destinations in Europe.

In 2023, France was the Philippines’ 16th top source of tourists in terms of residence with 51,601 travelers arriving in the Philippines, as well as 14th top source of tourists by nationality with 61,311 French nationals visiting the Philippines.