#TravelPH - AirAsia Philippines: Championing Tourism through International Collaboration

In an effort to preserve the pristine beauty of Boracay while establishing it as a premier tourist and investment destination, AirAsia Philippines takes pride as the official airline carrier for flying Ambassadors from ASEAN and other Asian countries to a 3-day International Business Forum and Diplomatic Visit on the island paradise of Boracay. This event aims to create a platform for international collaboration and promote economic and tourism partnerships for Boracay.

AirAsia flight Z2 217 will host Ambassadors including Abdul Melvin Castelino of Malaysia, Megawati Mana of Brunei, Agus Widjojo of Indonesia, Lai Thai Binh of Vietnam, Phan Peuv of Cambodia, Sonexay Vannayay of Laos, Imtiaz Ahmad Kazi of Pakistan, Minn-Gan Chow of Taiwan, and other diplomatic staff, arriving in Caticlan on Thursday, April 18.

The discussions during this event will cover various topics, including collaboration opportunities, the rise of digital marketing, and sustainable tourism. AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla, who is also a panelist in the business forum, expressed his excitement about showcasing the wonders of Boracay to the diplomatic community firsthand.

“As an Asean carrier, AirAsia takes pride in welcoming our Ambassadors to Boracay.  By flying our international leaders, we hope to contribute in promoting Boracay not just as a tourist destination, but also as a potential foreign investment hub. This also cements AirAsia’s position as a market leader in airline operations in Boracay,” Mr. Isla shares.

Currently, AirAsia Philippines flies Manila-Caticlan 9x daily, Clark-Caticlan daily, and Cebu-Caticlan 3x weekly. This is on top  of the  3x daily flights via Kalibo International Airport. 

“AirAsia is the preferred airline partner of guests traveling to Boracay because of its affordable fare, best deals with over 1,000 hotels and accommodations in the island available through the AirAsia MOVE platform, and the world class service it offers. All year round, the world’s best low cost airline enjoys an average load factor of 90-95% with over 300 thousand seats sold for Q1 of 2024 alone. It is in fact the top booked destination among all AirAsia routes,” Isla added.

Amidst the pandemic, AirAsia proactively showcased Boracay to leisure travelers by flying in some of the Philippines’ top-tier celebrities. Notable names like Ms. Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, Jodi Sta Maria, Vice Ganda, Arci Munoz, Christine Reyes, and Yeng Constantino were part of AirAsia’s “Airline of the Stars” campaign. The aim was to support micro, small, and medium enterprises on the island.

Boracay’s allure didn’t go unnoticed on the global stage. It secured several prestigious accolades, including being featured in Time Magazine’s “50 World’s Greatest Places.” The island claimed the 18th spot in the 2023 World Beach Guide and was recognized as the 5th Best Island Destination by the 2023 DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Award. Additionally, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2023 placed Boracay in the third position. Most recently, it received a nomination as Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination in the 2024 World Travel Awards.