|
THE National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) on
Wednesday deplored attempts by open skies proponents to use the
overseas Filipino workers as pawns in their bid to unilaterally open
up the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) and Subic
International Airport to foreign carriers.
In a statement sent to The Manila Times, Robert
Lim Joseph, the association’s chairman emeritus, said the alleged
shortage in airline seats for OFWs is being blown out of proportion
to draw the attention of the government to impose full
liberalization, through Executive Order 500B, at Clark and Subic.
“We are missing a point here,” Joseph said.
“The ultimate goal of any aviation policy is to promote travel and
tourism. Just look at the records of these foreign airlines flying
into Clark. Most of them don’t bring in tourists, but vacationing
OFWs.”
He said these carriers want additional seat
entitlements due to the lucrative OFW market.
“Granting for the sake of argument there is
severe shortage. What will happen after the situation has been
remedied and our skies have been opened to foreign carriers? Will
they be bringing in tourists or just OFWs?” Joseph asked.
The association said the country might be left
carrying the proverbial empty bag after the demand for airline seats
by Filipino workers has eased up and bumped off of its target to
register 5 million arrivals by 2010.
For 2008, the Department of Tourism targets $5.8
billion in tourist spending.
Joseph said reports that Middle East carriers
have jacked up their fares—from $400 to $650 [depending on the
booking; taxes, fuel surcharges applicable]—further validates the
claim of aviation stakeholders that the withdrawal of European
airlines and Philippine Airlines from the Middle East route would
result in monopoly for the ME and Asian carriers.
“The fares were lower then because of
cutthroat competition, forcing the other airlines such as PIA and
Egypt Air to abandon the route. They cannot compete with the Middle
Eastern carriers, who are mostly subsidized by their governments,”
he said. “See what is happening today? They even were able to
poach on passengers of PAL and other foreign carriers bound for
Saudi Arabia and European countries like the United Kingdom, France
and Germany.”
PAL is the only private-sector flag carrier in
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines,
Thai Airways International and Malaysian Airlines are known to have
received government subsidies.
Joseph added Middle Eastern carriers have little
to offer in terms of boosting tourism, but so much to gain. He also
wondered if the problem [airline bookings] was nationwide in scope.
“I am just curious. Why single out OFWs from Luzon?”
Recruiters belonging to a group called FAME has
asked President Gloria Arroyo to immediately open up more flights in
Clark or Subic airports to Asean countries connecting to the Middle
East for the benefit of OFWs living in Central and Northern Luzon.
-- Francis Earl C. Cueto
|
