For Chinese, Phl a top destination

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has bagged one of the “Best Tourist Destination” awards given by a leading Chinese newspaper, as the country remains to be a popular and sought-after destination among Chinese tourists.

The annual World Travel-Special Trips Awards was based on a consumer survey done by the Oriental Morning Post, one of the top news dailies in Shanghai.

Other winning countries in the category were Ireland, Korea, Singapore and Finland, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The awarding ceremony was held last Wednesday at the Twelve At Hengshan, a luxury collection hotel in Shanghai.

Important personalities from the Shanghai travel trade and media sectors attended the event.

Consul General Charles Jose accepted the award for the Philippines, accompanied by Tourism Attaché Gerard Panga and Niel Ballesteros of the Philippine Tourism Office in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, to cater to the growing number of Chinese tourists traveling to the Philippines, Airphil Express reactivated its Shanghai-Kalibo charters last Nov. 30.

Zest Air did the same last Thursday while Cebu Pacific was set to launch last Friday its maiden chartered flight from Shanghai to Kalibo.

Other chartered flights will be opened in time for the Chinese New Year holidays covering several routes: Beijing-Kalibo (Jan. 15), Hangzhou-Kalibo (Jan. 17), Guangzhou-Cebu (Jan. 17), Chengdu-Kalibo (Feb. 5), and Shanghai-Cebu (Feb. 8).

By the second and third quarters of 2013, chartered flights out of Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Chongqing and Xiamen will also be opened.

The Philippine government said it is able to maintain its strong presence in the Chinese market through aggressive promotion and strategic partnerships with the local media.