The sum of P179 million was allocated for the development of the Kalibo Airport, according to Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.
Durano was keynote speaker during the Western Visayas Tourism Forum held recently at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City.
According to Durano, the development of the airport is ongoing. Its completion in April 2008 will allow the airline companies to launch its international flights in Kalibo town considered as a jump off point for tourists bound for the world famous Boracay Island.
"This is a welcome development for us officials not only of the capital town of Kalibo but also for Aklanons. For a long time, we have been dreaming of an airport of international standard," Kalibo Senior SB Member Mark Vega Quimpo pointed out.
"The completion of Kalibo Airport development is anchored on the belief that one of the tenets of tourism industry to be fully developed, highly successful and institutional is the assurance to local and foreign tour operators of a sufficient air capacity and flight schedule. Accessibility is a major and critical factor in the enhancement and promotion of tourism," Quimpo added.
In April this year, P56 million was released for the installation of the Instrument Landing System as a response to request of local officials in Aklan to enable the conversion of Kalibo Airport into a regional airport for direct flights from ASEAN countries.
Kalibo, where the world-renowned Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival is annually celebrated, is about 216 air kilometers or approximately 50-minutes travel from Manila by plane. The Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific fly daily the Manila-Kalibo-Manila route.
Aklan Bags Six WV Tourism Excellence Awards
In another development, significant accomplishments of Aklan in the promotion of tourism was recognized during the Western Visayas Tourism Excellence Awards 2006 on October 25 at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City.
Tourism remains as one of the two major thrusts of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez. It remains an anchor industry of Aklan. Despite the worldwide slump in tourism industry due to economic downturn, tourist arrivals in Boracay continue to increase making the island a top tourist drawer.
"By the end of last year, we nearly hit the half-million mark. Boracay’s tourist arrivals for 2005 generated an estimated P3.8 billion in tourism receipts, money that circulated into Aklan’s mainstream economy," Marquez said.
Aklan won six of the 18 Institutional Awards including the award for WV Best Resort under the Class AA Category for the Sampaguita Gardens Resort in New Washington, Aklan and an award for WV Best Tourism Council for the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Tourism Council (KATC).
The town of Kalibo, under the leadership of Mayor Raymar Acevedo Rebaldo, was recognized as the region’s Best Local Government Unit in the implementation of tourism related programs and events.
Kalibo Municipal Tourism Officer Nester Ann Templonuevo was selected as this year’s recipient of WV Best Tourism Officer Award.
Environmental Tourism special Award was given to the stakeholders of the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project in Kalibo for Best Eco-Tourism project.
Uswag Development Foundation got the highly coveted Regional Director’s Award from DOT Regional Director Edwin Trompeta. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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