More flights to Laoag seen to boost local tourism

Returning Ilocos Norte residents and tourists alike land at the Laoag International Airport. (Photo by John Michael Mugas)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — More tourists are expected to stream into this province after a local airline announced that it was adding flights for its Manila-Laoag route beginning May 22.

In a statement on Wednesday, April 5, the Ilocos Norte government said the return of Cebu Pacific flights in the province would be a “major step forward to boost the economy in the province, with tourism expected to further grow in the Ilocos region.”

In a separate announcement, Cebu Pacific said its new route would allow passengers to fly daily from Manila to Laoag and back.

In 2017, Cebu Pacific ended its flight operations in Laoag.

The Inquirer earlier reported that it was to pave the way for its “looming expansion of CebuPac’s operations in the Visayas and Mindanao.”

Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc said the provincial government was “thrilled to welcome back Cebu Pacific to our province as this signals a renewed hope for our tourism industry.”

Manotoc hoped that “more airlines will follow suit.” Only the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), is operating daily flights for the Manila-Laoag and Laoag-Manila routes.

Recently, the provincial government also announced the addition of direct flights for the Laoag-Cebu route with PAL beginning May. INQ

lzb