Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said it is disappointing that the direct flights from Korea to Negros Occidental, which were seen as a boost to local tourism,  have been cancelled, but he remains hopeful that more will resume in the future.

 The two-times-a-week chartered ZestAir flights carrying  tourists from  South  Korea, that began landing  at the Bacolod Silay Airport on January 7  will end today, ZestAir director Arturo Alejandrino said Thursday.

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.

Leonardia  said “I understand there were certain business and administrative problems” among those responsible for bringing in the tourists.

 The mayor said he has sent word to the Koreans, though local businessman JV Tanpinco, that any time that they feel the flights can resume the city  government is offering whatever help it can give.

“It is  better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” the mayor quoted, of the cancelled flights.

Now that such direct flights carrying tourists have arrived  at the Bacolod Silay Airport already, it will be easier the next time around, he said.

The hard part was to start it,  he added.

Alejandrino said ZestAir will continue to find ways to bring in foreign tourists to the province, and they are not giving up.*CPG

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