Direct service from Manila opens more doors for WA tourism - AHA
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Direct service from Manila opens more doors for WA tourism - AHA
The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) WA has welcomed the state government's announcement of a new direct flight service between Manila and Perth, which will commence in March next year.
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DepositphotosThe WA Government has announced there will be direct flights from Perth to Manila (pictured) from March next year.
A new partnership between Philippine Airlines, Perth Airport and the state government will deliver "immediate and lasting" benefits to accommodation hotels and hospitality venues across the state, the Australian Hotels Association says.
As part of the collaboration, there will be direct flights from Manila to Perth, starting in March 2020.
AHA (WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the new announcement was the latest in a long list of achievements that the state government had delivered over the past 12 months.
“With the Philippines being one of WA’s strongest growing visitation markets, a direct service between Manila and Perth will ensure we are an even more appealing and accessible destination for holiday makers, business travellers, students and those visiting friends and family.”
“With the Federal Government looking to expand the Working Holiday Maker Programme to include the Philippines, direct flights will be well utilised by this important cohort of travellers.”
“The additional visitation that will result from this new direct service will ultimately grow jobs in WA’s hotels, restaurants, bars, pubs and taverns and we strongly commend the State Government for their continued efforts to investigate and secure these important partnerships.”
The Phillippine Airlines Airbus A321. Source: Depositphotos
Philippine Airlines will operate four flights a week on an Airbus A321, which has 12 business class seats and 156 economy seats, departing Manila at 12.05am and arriving in Perth at 7.20am. The flight will then leave Perth at 8.40am and land in Manila at 3.50pm.
According to the latest International Visitor Survey, the number of visitors from the Philippines travelling to WA grew by 34.7 per cent in the year ending June 2019.
In that same period, 42 per cent of visitor arrivals to WA from the Philippines were visiting friends and relatives, while 10 per cent visited for business, 17 per cent for a holiday, and four per cent for education purposes.
WA Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the new flights had the potential to increase the attraction of WA as a study destination for Filipino students.
"These students will not only help boost the local economy and create jobs, they also add to the social and cultural vibrancy of the Western Australian community," he said.
"Direct flights such as this help to position WA as Australia's western gateway, whereby visitors can start their Australian adventure in Perth and go on to explore our many wonderful regions."
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