Monday, May 21, 2012

...the Chinese connection

PHL expects more tourists, trade from China's Jinjiang City with new direct flights

 
May 20, 2012
GMA News
 
 
Tourists and investors from Jinjiang City in China's Fujian province can now fly direct to Manila, with the recent inauguration of direct flights between the two cities.
 

 
Philippine carrier Zest Air had its maiden flight from Manila to Jinjiang City last April 26, arriving at Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport at 11:30 a.m.

"This flight brings to four, the total of flights from the Philippines to Fujian province," the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Jinjiang is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou Municipality and is about one and a half hours drive away from Xiamen.

It is the hometown of many Filipinos of Chinese descent.

Philippine Consul Ambrosio Brian Enciso III, representing Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz, congratulated Zest Air for launching its first direct international flight to Jinjiang from Manila.

Enciso said the flight would be a more convenient way for Fujianese to travel to the Philippines since many overseas Chinese originate from Jinjiang and surrounding areas.

"(He) also expressed optimism that the new flight route would encourage more tourism from this part of China," the DFA said.

Enciso made the remarks at a press conference and luncheon at the Marco Polo Hotel following the arrival of the maiden flight.

Attending the press conference were 100 members of local and Philippine media, travel and tour operators, government officials and businessmen from China and the Philippines.

Quanzhou Vice Mayor Chen Rongzhou was the guest of honor.

Also present to give remarks were Consul General Zhen Zicheng of the Chinese Embassy in Manila, and Filipino-Chinese businessman Donald Dee, Vice Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Zest Airways Inc. president and chief executive officer Alfredo Yao also attended the press conference.

The event was co-organized and co-sponsored by China International Travel Service or CITS (Fujian) Group Corp., the biggest travel and tour operator in China. — LBG, GMA News

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