FILIPINOS...

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Boracay is still a top destination in the country, followed by Tagaytay, Cebu, Clark and Subic but Klook said it is developing other cities such as Baguio and Iloilo and other areas across the country.

Ho said the platform is now present in 21 cities in the country, which is more than its footprint before the pandemic.

For international travel, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong are popular for Filipinos. Hong Kong bookings grew 230 percent in January after it reopened, the study showed.

DIGITIZING TRAVEL INDUSTRY

Ho said the platform is helping the sector scale up by increasing discoverability of tour operators and other tourism-related services by digitizing bookings for activities, events, transport, services and hotels, among others.

Overall bookings for water activities in Boracay rose 75 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022 with 70 percent of total revenue coming from domestic market, Klook data showed.

Sky Ranch in Tagaytay, meanwhile, sold over 50,000 tickets due to Klook’s instant confirmation, it said.

“Digital technology is a powerful tool that can benefit the majority if done right, and we will continue to introduce platform enhancements to improve our customers’ travel experiences and make it easier to discover and book anything via Klook,” Ho said.

She said Klook has also created value-for-money products to help Filipinos make the most out of their travel funds.

During the pandemic, the platform created the Klook Pass, which consolidates travel services, activities and other essentials into one pass, giving users up to 30 to 40 percent savings. This is available in Boracay, Ho said.

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participants of the 1st AI Pinas Research and Development Conference and Workshop held on March 14-15 here in Davao City.

AI Pinas aims to create awareness on the value and applications of AI and AI Robotics in solving pressing national concerns like disaster risk reduction and disaster management. (PIA/RG Alama)

COTABATO... FROM 3

and AirAsia.

“The operationalization of the Central Mindanao Airport (CMA) is one of our administration’s priorities to spur the growth of commerce and agriculture and even tourism activities in the Province of Cotabato and even in our neighboring provinces,” Mendoza said.

The CMA is included in the Mindanao Development Authority’s (MinDA) priority infrastructure projects portfolio and is seen to “catalyze inclusive and balanced rural development in Mindanao… compliment General Santos and Awang Airports and will boost the economic activities of the area where many agricultural products, including highly-perishable fruits, come from,” according to MinDa.

Meanwhile, to complement the CMA the province is also establishing a Provincial Agro-Industrial Park (PAIP).

Through the Provincial Ordinance No. 565 series of 2015, the 27-hectare complex PAIP is situated in Barangay Pag-asa, M’Lang, and will house various agro-industrial food and non-food manufacturing.

“This agro-industrial marketing integration hub will cater to the processing of high-value crops and provides services and facilities that will generate added value to other commodities produced locally. Having a two-kilometer access road to CMA as an easy gateway for cargos, PAIP is also envisioned to create employment for Cotabateños,” Mendoza said. By Maya

M. Padillo