CLARK FREEPORT—Tourism stakeholders in Central Luzon are lauding the increasing number of flights at the Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga, including the recently launched Clark-Busan, South Korea route seen to attract more Korean tourists into the country.
The Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Central Luzon, led by President Jong Pil Choi, welcomed the development, saying “it will greatly benefit the Korean population in the region.”
“The Clark-Busan flight will further attract more Korean tourists to visit Clark as well as to utilize Clark, airport for their flights,” Choi said.
Jonathan Nowell, new general manager of Widus Hotel and Casino in Clark, said “this is very good considering Clark is a great destination.” He said there is an increasing number of Korean nationals patronizing Widus.
But Nowell stressed that “Clark should promote itself more, especially to foreign tourists.” He said: “Many do not know yet of Clark’s mature and green landscape and wide open spaces.”
Angeles City-based businessman Steve Kim said there are “between 10,000 and 15,000 Korean tourists in Pampanga alone at a given time.”
Kim, event coordinator of the annual international hot-air balloon festival in Lubao, Pampanga, said “the new flight is definitely good news not just for my fellow Koreans but the business community in Pampanga, as well.”
Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) President and CEO Emigdio Tanjuatco III said the new Clark-Busan route of Jin Air at the Clark airport will not only boost passenger traffic at the gateway but also support the marketing efforts of CIAC to promote the airport.
“The CIAC is now very much focus on its function to develop networks with the airlines to increase flights out of Clark airport. Tanjuatco is a proactive leader who clearly defines airport priorities.
He helps increase the flights and reaches out to the tourism community. He wants the tourism stakeholders to patronize and help in the promotion of Clark airport as premier hub,” said Gilda Padua, president of the Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB) and managing director of the Ties that Travel agency based at the SM City Clark.
“The GCVB just simply works for the advantage of the Greater Clark and promotion of the Clark airport is definitely is in our priority. The GCVB believed that a busy airport is a manifestation of a good economy in the local community,” she added. Korean air carrier Jin Air will start its four times weekly Clark-Busan flights from July 27 to August 24. The flights will stop and will resume in November during the peak season.
“We are pleased to welcome the Clark-Busan flight and we also would like to express gratitude to the Jin Air management for expanding their operations at Clark International Airport. CIAC will continue its effort to bring in more flights at the Clark airport,” Tanjuatco said.
Earlier this year, Jin Air increased its Incheon, South Korea service at the Clark airport from four flights a week to daily.
Tanjuatco expressed confidence that the number of passengers at the airport here this year will be slightly higher compared to 2014 when it failed to breach the 1-million mark.
He said the total passengers in 2015 could also be the same in a worst scenario compared to 877,757 passengers in 2014.
The CIAC said there were 443,507 passengers from January to June this year. In 2014 it was the first time in three years that the total number of passengers failed to reach 1 million. There were 1.3 million passengers in 2012 and 1.2 million in 2013.
At least eight airlines, including Cebu Pacific Air, are operating at the CRK.