Gov’t wants visa-upon-arrival scheme for Chinese tourists

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Despite growing tension between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, the government plans to implement here a visa-upon-arrival scheme to lure more Chinese tourists into the country.

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano said the scheme would allow Chinese tourists to get their visas upon arrival at the Clark International Airport (CIA).

“It’s the first time that such a scheme is being implemented in the Philippines and it will be piloted here at Clark,” he said.

Luciano said the visas would allow them to stay in the country for 14 days.

“There are about 100 million Chinese tourists who traveled overseas last year, and this is an opportunity to attract more Chinese travelers to visit the country,” Luciano told reporters at the 4th General Assembly Meeting of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Pampanga held in Angeles City.

The CIA is currently undergoing rehabilitation and upgrading as part of plans to make the terminal an alternative airport to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.   – Ding Cervantes