Following San Juanico load limit
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism(DOT) in the region has welcomed the recent announcement by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon to launch an investigation into the soaring cost of airline tickets to and from the region—a concern that has long plagued the local tourism industry.
“This is a welcome development for the tourism sector in Eastern Visayas. The high airfare rates have been a major deterrent for potential tourists,” said DOT-8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes in an interview.
She explained that aside from affecting leisure travel, the steep cost of flights is also discouraging organizations from choosing the region as a venue for national conventions.
“Our tour operators struggle to market the region because airfare-inclusive packages often end up being more expensive than trips to neighboring Asian destinations,” Tiopes added.
“We are perceived as a costly destination, which drives away price-sensitive travelers.”
A social media post by Leyte Board Member Wilson Uy recently highlighted the issue, showing that a one-way flight from Tacloban to Manila via Philippine Airlines costs P9,210, while the return flight from Manila to Tacloban is P8,124. In contrast, a Manila to Davao flight is priced significantly lower at P6,305.
“If the cost of air travel to Eastern Visayas is brought down, we can become more competitive not only with domestic destinations but also with other countries in Southeast Asia,” Tiopes emphasized.
The issue of high airfares was formally raised during the visit of Secretary Dizon to Tacloban on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
The DOTr chief met with officials from national agencies and local government units—including Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez—primarily to discuss urgent solutions to the ongoing traffic crisis at the San Juanico Bridge.
During the meeting, officials from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Tacloban-Leyte brought up the airfare dilemma, prompting Dizon to commit to a hearing at the DOTr Central Office. The hearing, set for today, is expected to involve representatives from airline companies, with airfare rates as the central agenda.
The tourism sector, already grappling with accessibility issues due to infrastructure constraints, is hopeful that the outcome of the probe will lead to more affordable travel options that could boost the region’s appeal to both domestic and international tourists.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
