– 59 seconds ago
Target exceeded The Philippines welcomed more than 5.45 million tourists last year. Approximately 26% were from South Korea, followed by the United States, Japan, and Australia. Before the pandemic, China was the largest source of foreign tourists. —File photo
Travel momentum driving the airline industry could be affected by an expected slowdown in China's economy, once the largest source of tourists to the Philippines, according to Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) officials. It is said that overseas travel from countries with large populations may be halted.
In an interview with the Inquirer, ASBAA Vice-President Maximilian Motschmann said the world's second-largest economy is facing a slowdown in spending and a real estate crisis, among other things, which could hinder international travel. expressed some concerns.
The World Bank expects China's economic growth rate to slow to 4.5% this year from 5.2% in 2023. ”[Prior to the] Due to the pandemic, Chinese people have been among the most frequently traveled people around the world. I'm currently feeling a bit stagnant. Let’s see what happens with the economy,” he said.
While the economic powerhouse has seen a recovery in its domestic travel sector, international flights have yet to catch up.
The International Air Transport Association reported that China's domestic traffic in 2023 was 7.1% above pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Administration of China predicts that the number of international flight operations will reach 80% of 2019 levels by the end of this year.
China was one of the biggest sources of international tourism to the Philippines until the pandemic struck, but the country closed its borders as a safety measure.
The Ministry of Tourism noted that the country received more than 5.45 million tourists last year, exceeding the target of 4.8 million. Approximately 26% of tourists came from South Korea, followed by the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Earlier, low-cost airline Cebu Pacific Air also expressed concerns about demand for flights to and from China.
Xander Lao, president and chief commercial officer of the Gokongwei-led airline, previously told reporters that the restart of the Manila-Beijing route will be postponed to October due to “very soft” demand. He told the group.
Laos said it was taking a “very cautious approach towards China” and was closely monitoring bookings on existing China routes.
Cebu Pacific Air has resumed flights to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen. Rivals Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines have also restarted their China networks following the easing of border restrictions. INQ
