Malaysian airline to help promote Philippine tourism

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said a Malaysia-based low cost airline has offered to promote Philippine tourism as it saw the sector's tremendous potential. According to a report by the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, officials of AirAsia, led by V. Raman Narayanan, offered the airline's assistance during a courtesy call on Ambassador-designate Eduardo Malaya on October 7. The embassy said Malaysia is the Philippines’ 11th top tourism market. Last year, 79,694 Malaysian tourists visited the country. From January to August 2011, the Philippines received 60,161 Malaysian tourists. “With these promising figures so far from January to August 2011, I see huge potential in exceeding last year’s performance," said Department of Tourism Marketing Representative in Kuala Lumpur Melissa Ong. Raman said AirAsia Berhad Group CEO/Director Tony Fernandes earlier paid a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang Palace. During his visit to Aquino, Fernandes offered AirAsia’s expertise in marketing and branding to lure more tourists to the Philippines. AirAsia Philippines is expected to start more flights to and from the Philippines soon, with planned flights from Clark to Hong Kong and then Macau, and to Singapore and then Bangkok. Presently, AirAsia flies from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu to Clark on a daily basis. - VVP, GMA News