MANILA – The Philippines wants to boost the current air connectivity with Bahrain to include flights to Cebu, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.

In a recent visit to Bahrain, DOT Secretary Christina Frasco and Bahraini Minister of Tourism Fatima bint Jaffar Al Sairafi discussed the possible collaboration in the area and the broader tourism sector.

On top of augmenting the current Bahrain to Manila flights, the two also discussed joint promotions of islands, exchange of tourism professionals, mutual growth in meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), and tourism investments.

Frasco proposed the execution of an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on tourism development cooperation, building on an old agreement signed in 2003.

Al Sairafi welcomed the idea, saying this updated deal would “put the silver lining” for the Philippine-Bahrain cooperation.

“I’m so happy that you are here in the Kingdom of Bahrain so that we could start discussing ways that we can collaborate,” the minister said.

The meeting was held last week on the sidelines of Frasco’s participation in the 9th UN Tourism World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism at Exhibition World Bahrain from Nov. 18 to 19.

At the forum, Frasco highlighted the country’s robust policy framework and innovative initiatives that harness gastronomy's potential to drive tourism development.

In the high-level session titled Shaping Policies for Advancing Gastronomy Tourism, Frasco joined Al Sairafi and Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister of International Affairs Sultan AlMusallam, with the discussion moderated by UN Tourism Director of Market Intelligence, Policies, and Competitiveness Sandra Carvao. (PNA)