MANILA – Air India is expected to launch flights to Manila later this year, a development seen to lure more Indian tourists to the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday.

On the sidelines of a European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) luncheon meeting in Makati, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the government regards India as a “huge potential source market for the Philippines.”

“We are hopeful that the Air India flights will begin in the latter part of this year. We have had various coordinations, both with Air India, our private sector, as well as the Department of Transportation, CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines), and CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board,” she said.

“The national government is in full support of welcoming this inaugural flight from India, even as the electronic visa system has already been launched.”

In February, CAAP met with Air India executives and discussed the application process for establishing direct air service between the two states.

CAAP said it would streamline the flight approval process while ensuring compliance with all applicable safety and operational standards.

About 79,000 Indian visitors traveled to the Philippines in 2024, more than 12 percent higher compared to the previous year but still fewer than the numbers recorded by neighboring Southeast Asian states.

Based on the latest Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) data, more than 4.2 million Indians traveled to the region in 2024 alone.

On top of wooing leisure travelers, the DOT is also positioning the country as a wedding and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination for Indian nationals.

In a separate interview, Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) executive director Benito Bengzon Jr. noted that some Philippine hotels are more than ready to cater to the big Indian wedding scene.

“At the hotel level, from our members, they are doing it already – Shangri La, for example, in Mactan,” he said.

Air India’s upcoming direct flights will add to the new routes recently established with major Philippine source markets, including Air France and Air Canada flights from Paris and Vancouver, respectively.

Frasco said these flights reflect a “vote of confidence” for Philippine tourism and are an “encouraging momentum” for its growth trajectory.

She encouraged more carriers, including those in the Middle East, to follow suit. (PNA)