CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY鈥擳he volume of travel between Northern Mindanao and Visayas was expected to increase as the Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific announced recently that it was now serving the Laguindingan-Bacolod and Laguindingan-Tagbilaran routes.
The flights started聽Wednesday.
May Salva帽a-Unchuan, the regional tourism director, did not cite figures but said the new flights will further increase the number of passengers traveling between Northern Mindanao and Visayas.
Katherine de Castro, DOT undersecretary for tourism advocacy and public affairs, said the additional flights will also certainly enhance Northern Mindanao鈥檚 tourism sector.
鈥淚f we are to boost our tourism industry, it is imperative to boost air connectivity, as well,鈥� de Castro told reporters here.
Cebu Pacific president and chief executive officer Alexander Lao said they believed that 鈥渢hese new routes will not only boost tourism, but also increase trade and productivity between Visayas and Mindanao.鈥�
鈥淢ovement of goods between these islands will also be facilitated at [Cebu Pacific] cargo services, [which] are also available in these new routes,鈥� Lao said.
Cebu Pacific serves the Laguindingan-Tagbilaran route four times weekly (Monday,聽Wednesday,聽Friday聽and聽Sunday); and the Laguindingan-Bacolod thrice a week during Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The airline said it uses ATR aircraft for both routes. RAM/rga