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Thursday, March 28, 2024

AirAsia: ‘Green lane’ to help revive PHL tourism sector

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BUDGET carrier AirAsia said the creation of a so-called “green lane” for fully-vaccinated air passengers may help rekindle the demand for air travel and potentially boost tourism revenues again.

AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said the group is backing the proposal of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the creation of “green lanes” that will facilitate the entry of foreign travelers in the Philippines.

The proposed policy aims to reduce the number of quarantine days for foreign travelers to the Philippines. Currently, international passengers are required to undergo mandatory 10-day quarantine in an accredited hotel or facility.

“AirAsia believes that the ‘green lane’ will encourage leisure travelers who have previously expressed concerns on varying requirements per destination. This will be further reinforced by the implementation of uniform travel requirements through a digital travel pass. If the execution becomes effective for domestic travel, then we can slowly welcome foreign tourists again,” Dailisan said.

The policy is currently being implemented in some airports around the world, including the ones in Spain, France, Nepal, and Thailand.

He added that the budget carrier is looking at providing incentives for fully vaccinated individuals not only to stir the demand for safe air travel, but also to encourage everyone to take the vaccine shot.

“While we strongly believe that easing of restrictions among fully vaccinated individuals is key to rebooting tourism, there must be no room for complacency. Industry partners and all stakeholders must proactively monitor and observe established health and safety protocols,” Dailisan noted.

Aside from AirAsia, other groups and stakeholders have expressed their support for the said policy, including Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Standardization in health protocols will be the best key in winning back tourism. When people feel safe, they will travel,” said Concepcion.

The Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry said there is a need to allow foreign travelers to enter the Philippines because the country’s tourism industry will not survive on local tourists alone. The group said, however, that fully vaccinated tourists must still be subjected to RT-PCR test.

Tourism is a key driver of the Philippine economy. Should the government successfully implement measures to reduce the adverse effects of Covid-19, Euromonitor International believes that inbound arrivals to the Philippines could reach 9.9 million by 2023.

AirAsia itself believes that it will fully recover the losses it incurred due to the pandemic by the same year. It is currently implementing recovery initiatives, including the resumption of some of its international flights.

“Since the onset of the pandemic, AirAsia has implemented a robust multi-layered approach to passenger safety from check-in to inflight. Numerous digital and contactless solutions have also been put in place to ensure a safe, affordable and comfortable guest experience,” Dailisan said.

Read full article on BusinessMirror

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