INTERVIEW Manila aims to attract 2 mil. Korean tourists next year
Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at BEXCO, Busan, Tuesday. Korea and the Philippines signed the implementation program of a 2006 memorandum of understanding (MOU), Monday, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit, aiming to boost the tourism industries of both countries. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Park Ji-won
BUSAN ― Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Manila was aiming to attract at least 2 million South Korean tourists next year, as the tourism deal between the Philippines and South Korea would further boost bilateral relations.
“We want to have more direct flights, not only from Incheon but also from Busan… We are talking to the different airlines. It is a private session. We are encouraging … low-cost carriers, to have more direct flights to the Philippines. We hope by next year to exceed 2 million [South Korean tourists or] more,” Puyat said during an interview with The Korea Times at BEXCO Convention Center, Busan, Tuesday.
She also noted that aside from “sun and beach” tourism, South Koreans come to the Philippines to study English.
The secretary came to the country's southern port city for the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit. On the sidelines of her visit, South Korea and the Philippines signed an agreement under which the countries will introduce joint programs and activities for two-way tourism promotion and strengthening cooperation on tourist safety, security and quality assurance.
South Korea has been the Philippines' top source of international visitors for nine straight years. By last year, 1.6 million South Koreans visited the Philippines accounting for 24 percent of the total foreign tourists visiting the Southeast Asian country.
At this year's summit between President Moon Jae-in and leaders of the ASEAN bloc, they've agreed to join hands for regional stability and jointly promote President Moon's New Southern Policy, which the South Korean leader has driven with the goal of finding new growth engines beyond traditional business partners.
Regarding looming security and safety concerns in the Philippines, the secretary said its President, Rodrigo Duterte, assured President Moon that the Philippines will apply stricter measures for the safety of South Korean tourists.
“Our president is very popular (because) he will not say anything he does not mean,” according to the tourism secretary. She also stressed that her government is planning to add more tourist police to create a safer environment for those tourists.
When asked if the Philippines has any specific plans to boost tourism between the countries, the secretary hinted at the possibility of starting a sister city program with Seoul. According to her, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno visited Seoul recently to move forward with the plan.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism?Park Yang-woo, right, shakes hands with Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat after signing an agreement for the implementation program of the MOU on tourism cooperation between the two countries on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit, as President Moon Jae-in, right, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte applaud at a hotel in Busan, Monday. Courtesy of the Philippine Government
Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat smiles during an interview with The Korea Times at BEXCO in Busan, Tuesday. Korea and the Philippines signed an agreement Monday on the implementation of a 2006 memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit aiming to boost the tourism industries of both countries. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Citing the continuous popularity of K-pop and Korean pop culture in the Philippines, the secretary said the popularity was attributable to “a lot of similarities” being shared and embraced between the citizens of the countries.
“Not only we celebrated 70 years, last March, but our society and our culture is practically the same. I am sure when you visit the Philippines, you will feel at home.”
South Korean and the five Mekong nations also adopted the Mekong-Han River Declaration on Wednesday which prioritizes cooperation between the countries in seven areas: culture and tourism, human resources development, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure, information and communication technology (ICT), environment, and non-traditional security challenges.