First District Bohol Representative Rene L. Relampagos has filed a resolution urging concerned government agencies to set up Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facilities at Tagbilaran airport to allow the airport to cater to direct flights from/to Korea and other Asian countries.

Relampagos, chair of the House Committee on Tourism, stressed the need to upgrade Tagbilaran airport’s facilities as most airlines have expressed intent to operate/charter flights between the country’s top tourist source markets and the Philippines.

“The Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signified interest in establishing direct air links from Korea to Bohol within the year due to the growing demand from Korean tourists. The air link is expected to boost trade and travel between the Philippines and Korea, which are starting to rely more on their respective tourism sectors to create more jobs and boost growth,” Relampagos stressed.

The lawmaker pointed out that strengthening direct air links between key growth markets and the nation’s top tourism attractions continues to be an important priority for the Aquino Administration because of its huge potential to boost the country’s tourism.

“Infrastructure development programs have been recognized as key ingredients necessary to support the influx of foreign and local tourists. In order to boost Bohol’s tourism, our airport should be at par with those of the other progressive cities and we can only do that if we will enhance our capacity to accommodate more direct flights from different nations through infrastructure development.”

Said resolution encourages concerned government agencies such as the Department Of Agriculture, Department Of Tourism, Department Of Public Works And Highways, Bureau Of Immigration, Bureau Of Customs And Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, to establish CIQ facilities at Tagbilaran Airport.

“With the necessary airport infrastructure and CIQ facilities in place, we will be able to attract more tourists and thereby, improve tourist arrivals in the province, contributing to the overall economic growth of the country,” he stressed.

Relampagos further said that it sends a strong signal to the global airline community that the Philippines is more than able to provide a level and more profitable playing field for international carriers that operate in the Philippines.