Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat led the Department of Tourism (DOT) delegation to Korea from March 28 until April 1, and met with Korean tour operators like Kyowon KRT, Modu Tours, and Hana Tours and representatives of government agencies like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The delegation also met with representatives from the aviation industry, including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Asiana, Air Seoul, T’way, Jin Air, Jeju Air and Fly Gangwon.
The DOT is seeking to tap the Korean travel market, the country’s largest, before the pandemic,
To boost tourist arrivals from South Korea, Sec. Puyat pitched the Philippines’ newest tourism products and activities that will likely appeal to the Korean travel market in the new normal.
“The Philippines is more than ready to welcome our Korean tourists. Our entry requirements are one of the safest and most relaxed in Asia,” said Puyat in a briefing held by the DOT for some 80 Korean tourism industry players and media representatives at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul, on March 30.
“It is understandable that some may still be reluctant to travel amid the pandemic but let me reassure you that the Philippine Government and tourism industry have instituted measures to keep everyone safe,” she added.
Though fourth in the ranking of arrivals in the Philippines in the past two months with only 5,551 visitors, Korean tourists registered some 1.98 million arrivals in 2019, which is considered the highest arrival figure among all markets ever recorded in the country.
Other than its natural beauty, the lure of the Philippines to South Korean tourists can be partly attributed to the proximity of the Philippines, which takes only three and a half hours by air. The emergence of low-cost carriers, resulting in frequent flights and reasonable travel cost, and good quality of service have also attracted Korean tourists to the Philippines.
As the Philippines recently opened inbound travel, fully vaccinated foreign tourists with a negative COVID test results need not quarantine or undergo testing upon arrival. Unvaccinated children below 12 may travel to the Philippines with their fully vaccinated parents.