India-Philippines Direct Flights Soon? Here’s What Officials Say — India Report

Direct flights between India and the Philippines are expected to start this year, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Harsh Kumar Jain said this week.

Indian full-service airline Air India and budget carrier IndiGo are being looked at to serve on the route, Jain shared. 

The secretary of tourism in the Philippines Maria Esperanza Christina Frasco also said that direct flights between Delhi and Manila are possible this year based on the current progress in negotiations. She added that the department of tourism is also advocating for direct flights from India to other destinations in the country, including Cebu and Clark. 

Philippines’ Efforts for Indian Tourists: The Philippines has been rolling out measures to ramp up tourism from India as Chinese arrivals have declined, according to the Philippine government’s official news service PNA. Last year, the country fully rolled out its e-visa system for Indians for travelers wanting to visit for short-term visits. 

Now, the Philippines is working on an action plan specific to the India-Philippine tourism relations, PNA said on Tuesday. The department of tourism is also positioning itself as a wedding and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination for Indians.

The country’s Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is also working with Indi