The expansion of Puerto Princesa International Airport in Puerto Princesa will become a key element to improve the tourism industry of the Philippines, according to the Secretary of Tourism of the Philippines – Christina Frasco.
Frasco said that this development is part of a broader effort to address the challenges of promotion and infrastructure within the sector.
The expansion of this airport, responds to the demand for a constantly growing tourist destination: the National Park of the Underground River of Puerto Princesa or Underground River of Puerto Princesa, which is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature since 2011.
In an interview with Palawan News, Frasco emphasized the fundamental role of infrastructure in tourism development. He highlighted the ongoing projects, including the expansion of Palawan airport, which is prepared to serve as the main take-off point for tourists visiting the region.
“The challenges faced by the Philippine tourism industry do not only refer to the promotion aspect, but also to the basic pillars of tourism development, the first of which is infrastructure,” Frasco said.
The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos has allocated 5 billion Philippine pesos (almost 86 million dollars) for new tourist roads and 10 billion Filipino pesos (just over 170 million dollars) for continuous roads in 2023. More than 158 kilometers of tourist roads have been built since June 30, 2022. And in addition, the administration is also collaborating with the Department of Public Works and Roads and the Department of Transport to improve airports and seaports throughout the country.
Frasco stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in these efforts, citing as an example the imminent acquisition of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by the San Miguel Corporation.
“We are also very happy to see that improvements at our airports throughout the country are near and we look forward to this greater expansion of Palawan airport in Puerto Princesa,” he said.
Additional projects include the construction of new cruise ports and the increase in the number of direct flights to the Philippines to improve connectivity.
In 2023, the Philippines registered 482 billion Philippine pesos (more than 8 billion dollars) in income from international visitors, indicating a transformative period for Filipino tourism aimed at boosting employment and livelihood opportunities for Filipinos.