“Kaya, next week sisimulan na natin ang expansion ng Siargao Airport. Sa darating na taon, maayos na, luluwag na at gaganda na ang Siargao Airport,” DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said Wednesday during the 2025 Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Discussions in San Juan City.

“At ganun din ang gagawin natin sa ibat-ibang mga airports at iba pang transportation facilities sa Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao, lalo na ang mga tourist areas,” he added.

Dizon said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the improvement of airports, notably those that serve as gateways to tourist spots.

The DOTr chief mentioned the ongoing improvements at the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan, Aklan, which serves tourists headed to the world-famous Boracay Island.

On July 14, President Marcos led the groundbreaking for the new passenger terminal building of the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport.

The President said the government is working to open the Philippines to more global investors and international tourists by upgrading and constructing airports nationwide, providing direct international access to key destinations beyond Manila.

Dizon said public infrastructure projects, such as the rehabilitation and construction of airports, benefit not only the economy in general but the people in the community through more jobs and business opportunities.

“Maraming trabahong na-create, maraming kabuhayan ang na-create at bumubuti ang mga kababayan natin doon. Pero kailangan pagandahin naman natin ang infrastructure,” Dizon said.

Imagine this: booking the flight, hotel, airport transfer, and event tickets all in one place. No more juggling multiple platforms. This integration combines Movetix’s global ticketing expertise with Ticketmelon’s impressive lineup of over 300,000 tickets, giving you access to unforgettable experiences at your fingertips.

“AirAsia Move, our OTA (online travel agency) platform, is not just about booking hotels and flights, but about giving you experiences that you have never dreamt of,” said Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Executive Chairman of Move Digital, at the signing of the partnership agreement.

According to a report by Collinson Group, live-events tourism is booming, especially with sports tourism leading the charge. It’s already valued at a massive USD 564.7 billion and is expected to grow to USD 1.33 trillion by 2032. And music tourism? It’s set to more than double, contributing over USD 13.8 billion.

Young people are part of this wave, and now, with the AirAsia Move app, any traveler can effortlessly be a part of iconic events anywhere in ASEAN.

Hassan Choudhury, CEO of Movetix, put it perfectly: “We are in very exciting times, especially driven by the region’s young, dynamic population with increasing disposable income who are part of a growing global fanbase who will spend to travel to iconic live events such as sports and concerts.”

“With the integration of Ticketmelon’s event listings into AirAsia Move, travelers will have unprecedented access to a wide range of concerts, festivals, and events, making it more convenient than ever to plan their entire trip in one place,” Choudhury added.

So for anyone looking to plan a weekend music festival getaway or organize a trip for the next big sports event, this partnership opens up a world of possibilities. The future of travel and event booking is here—let’s move!

To mark the Christmas season and the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, Air France will resume its direct flights between Manila and Paris in December, it was learned recently.

In a media release, the French embassy in the Philippines said the new thrice-a-week flights after a 20-year absence will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, reflecting France’s concrete support to the economic development of the Philippines.

“This marks a significant step in the strengthening of bilateral relations between France and the Philippines, offering new opportunities for mobility, and economic, tourism, cultural development, and student exchange,” the embassy said.

“It will help boost French and European investment in a particularly dynamic Philippine market,” it added.

As the Philippines is currently the only major Southeast Asian country without a direct connection to the European Union, this connection of the two air hubs—Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)—consolidates France’s role as a gateway to Europe for the Philippines.

“[This] strategic connection [will also] boost trade, tourism, and exchanges between France and the Philippines, and more generally with Europe,” the embassy said.

The Paris-Manila route will officially open on the first weekend of December, which will coincide with the end of the restoration work on the world-famous cathedral five years after it caught fire.

“This initiative also illustrates Air France’s commitment to establishing a long-term presence in the Philippine market, at a time when flights between Europe and the Philippines are set to increase by +4.1% a year between now and 2042,” the embassy said.

Other strategic initiatives include France’s opening of a resident defense mission in the country in June 2024, and its opening of a new embassy office in the Philippines with enhanced resources at the start of the year.