AirAsia Philippines is getting ready for a boost in international travel. The Department of Health’s (DOH) recent decision to drop the vaccine certificate requirement for inbound foreign travelers is set to make travel more seamless. Starting August 12, 2023, the new rule will take effect, opening doors for more tourists to explore the Philippines.
According to DOH Circular 2023-06, “all arriving international travelers are accepted regardless of their vaccination status.” This change comes on the heels of the Transportation Department’s earlier move to scrap face masks for public transportation.
AirAsia Philippines’ Response
AirAsia Philippines is optimistic about this change. Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Philippines Head for Communications and Public Affairs and First Officer, expressed his thoughts on the matter: “Since the pandemic, the vaccine certificate has been the most essential travel requirement for inbound tourists. The lifting of this travel requirement is a major step towards making travel more seamless and will definitely encourage travelers, regardless of vaccination status, to experience the Philippines. This is also very timely now that we are a few days away from welcoming the “Ber” months, the usual peak of travel in the Philippines.”
The airline’s marketing analytics team has been keeping an eye on travel trends. From January 1 to August 13, 2023, Koreans led the way, making up 13% of visitors. They were followed by Japanese (7%), Chinese (6%), Taiwanese (3%), and a mix of Americans and other nationalities (22%). Popular destinations during this period included Cebu, Caticlan (Boracay), Davao, Iloilo, and Tacloban.
Contributing to Tourism Goals
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has set a goal of 4.8 million international tourist arrivals for 2023. AirAsia Philippines, known as the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline, is committed to contributing to this target. They plan to offer their best services and value deals for flights and other travel-related services through the airasia Superapp.
AirAsia Philippines also wants to remind guests that all international flights will continue to arrive and depart at NAIA Terminal 3, while domestic flights have now moved to NAIA Terminal 2. For the latest travel advisories and flight schedules, travelers can check the AirAsia travel safety website.
The new travel regulations are a welcome change, and AirAsia Philippines is ready to embrace them. With the easing of restrictions, the airline is gearing up to welcome more travelers to the beautiful islands of the country.
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