The direct flights from South Korea to Negros Occidental that were seen as a tourism breakthrough for the province will be short-lived.

The two times a week chartered ZestAir flights carrying mostly golfing tourists from South Korea, that began landing at the Bacolod Silay Airport on January 7 will end on Saturday, ZestAir director Arturo Alejandrino confirmed to the DAILY STAR last night.

The last direct flight will come in on Saturday, but Alejandrino said they will try to explore the possibility of resuming such flights in the future.

Alejandrino had earlier announced that the direct flights from Korea would last until the end of March.

“Let us not be discouraged, it is not the fault of Negros Occidental and Bacolod, it is just that the tourist market in Korea has softened,” he said.

The word is that, following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, the South Korean government gave instructions for its officials to hold off travel.

Golfing tourists from Korea are usually high and middle level government officials, he said.

Alejandrino said aside from golfing, Negros Occidental can promote its other tourism destinations to tap into the market for other Korean tourists. It will have to develop other niche markets for tourists aside from golfing, he said.

He said Negrenses are unique for the warmness in which they welcome their visitors and that was very much appreciated by the Koreans.

Bacolod and Negros Occidental are not yet popular among the Koreans but we will try to resolve this, he said.

The Philippine government is joining the Yeosu Travel Expo this year in Korea to strongly promote its tourism destinations, he said.

He said ZestAir will continue to find ways to bring in foreign tourists to the province. “We are not giving up,” Alejandrino said.*CPG

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