Direct flights from Korea a ‘tourism breakthrough’

Local officials Saturday called the arrival of direct flights from Korea to Negros Occidental until March a major breakthrough in tourism, which they hope will pave the way for more international flights landing at the Bacolod-Silay Airport soon.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. hosted a dinner on Saturday night at the provincial Capitol for airline and Korean travel officials who arrived on board the maiden ZestAir direct flight from Korea to Bacolod Saturday with 120 tourists on board, most of whom came to play golf.

It was piloted by Sunny Chan, a St. John’s Institute Class ’91 graduate.

This will be followed by 14 more flights arriving every Saturday and Wednesday.

Arturo Alejandrino, Zest Air director, said he hopes that these direct flights from Korea will lead to more in the future.

In December 2009 ZestAir started with two flights a week to Kalibo, Aklan, and now has 14 a week, landing there from Korea, Taipeh and China, he said.

“We would like to replicate this in Negros Occidental, which is a beautiful province with a lot to offer,” Alejandrino added.

He said they were starting with golf tours to Negros Occidental but hope to expand to other tourists attractions in the province.

After Aklan, Bacolod and Negros Occidental are second on their list of tourist destinations in the region, Alejandrino said.

He said the 180–seater Zest Air planes will be initially flying in Korean tourists twice a week.

“But we hope to increase the number of flights coming in to Negros Occidental from Korea and other areas,” he said.