The delayed implementation of e-visa and mounting of direct flights between Manila and Delhi stymie the growth of the promising tourist market from India to the Philippines.
PATA Philippines Chapter chair and Ark Travel Express president Paz Alberto said the industry has been clamouring for the implementation of the e-visa as the best way to attract Indian tourists, especially since many countries have allowed visa-free entry for travellers from India.
At the recent Philippine Travel Exchange’s PHITEX educational talk, Alberto also said the plan for Air India to codeshare with Philippine Airlines (PAL) in flying direct from Delhi to Manila this October is most likely to take place next year.
Arrivals from India have been rising over the past years, at times easing out longhaul source markets in the top Philippine arrivals despite the need to streamline visa processing and PAL stopping its Delhi-Manila service years ago.
E-visa is still under testing even as the Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) announced it will take place this year. Indian nationals still have to make a personal appearance at the Philippine embassy in Delhi for visa processing, which could take a month or so.
However, the Philippines allows visa-free entry to Indian travellers who have Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore, the US or the UK visas for a stay of 14 days extended to a maximum of 21 days.
In a previous interview with reporters, tourism secretary Christina Frasco said a joint working group from the Indian government recently visited the Philippines to collaborate with the DoT “for the purpose of repairing the Philippine tourism landscape in terms of opening it up to the Indian market”.
Frasco shared that talks have been successful so far in trying to have local and Indian carriers “to mount flights to the Philippines” as well as for the DoT “to provide proof of concept and to test the market through charter flights”.
She added that DoT is coordinating with tour operators and travel agents to mount group travel from India in a bid to prove that there is indeed a growing demand for Indian travellers to come to the Philippines.
