Shanghai, 07 July 2021 – Officials of Cebu Pacific’s Shanghai Office paid a courtesy introductory call today on new Consul General Josel F. Ignacio.

Cebu Air, Inc. Sales Supervisor Kelly Tao and Account Executive Sam Ni apprised the Consulate General of Cebu Pacific’s China operations, the airline’s steady expansion of its Philippines-China route networks until COVID-19’s outbreak, and existing constraints due to necessary travel restrictions on both ends.

While acknowledging present challenges, the Consulate General nevertheless congratulated Cebu Pacific for its steady gains and inroads into the China market, pre-pandemic. The Consulate General took the opportunity to update Cebu Pacific about the existing regime of travel and entry guidelines into the Philippines.

Both sides see an eventual rebound as both countries make progress in pandemic control and vaccinations. The need to resume official and business travel, as well as pent-up touristic travel demand are seen as driving optimism. The meeting also touched on broadening options to enable Filipinos in China to fly to the Philippines amidst prevailing limitations.

Until the pandemic broke, Chinese tourism into the Philippines was seeing exponential growth, trailing only behind the Republic of Korea. From under half a million in 2015, it rose to over 1.2 million in 2018 before climbing to over 1.7 million in 2019. END