PH, India keen on opening more flights to boost tourism
Provided by Philippine Daily Inquirer.
MANILA, Philippines—Manila and New Delhi are keen on expanding their flight networks as direct commercial flights will open between the two capital cities this year.
According to Periasamy Kumaran, Secretary (East) of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, one of the inaugural flights this year is scheduled in October and would be operated by Air India, India's flag carrier.
“Further discussions are still going on about further destinations and possible variations in how we can expand the scope of our bilateral air services agreement. Hopefully, more destinations will be added,” Kumaran said in a press briefing on Tuesday night.
The inauguration of a new air route between Manila and New Delhi in October this year is seen to boost tourism as the two nations mark 2025 as the Asean-India Year of Tourism, Kumaran noted.
Culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges are among the priority areas in the strategic partnership forged between the Philippines and India in the ongoing five-day state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos to India until August 8.
This includes strengthening the cultural exchange programs, scholarship grants, development of the tourism and hospitality sector, and engagements with students, media, and academic institutions.
READ: India to offer free tourist visas for Filipinos
Tourist visa fees for Filipinos traveling to India would be waived, as announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday after the Philippine government imposed a visa-free entry for Indian nationals visiting the Philippines for up to 14 days.
Filipino tourists had to shell out P5,970 for an Indian tourist visa, according to the Embassy of India in the Philippines. /gsg
(2025/08/06-14:10)
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