THE Department of Tourism (DoT) said on Friday, March 1, that the recent Routes Asia 2024 award to Clark International Airport (CRK) would increase the country's foreign visitor arrivals this year.

CRK has been selected as the Routes Asia 2024 winner in the 5 Million Passenger Category.

"We are grateful for the recognition bestowed upon Clark International Airport at the Routes Asia Marketing Awards. Winning in the Under 5 Million Passengers category underscores the Marcos Administration's commitment to excellence in route development marketing," Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

"This achievement reflects the dedication of the travel and air transport team, and the resilience of CRK, showcasing its remarkable growth and positive impact on the aviation and tourism industries," she added.

One of Frasco's first directives is for the DoT to push for full utilization of the country's regional gateways, including Clark.

"Thus, the Department has been proactive in working with the transportation department and other concerned stakeholders to increase the country's connectivity," Frasco said.

"We are in full support of maximizing the use of other international gateways outside of Manila, such as Clark and Cebu, for the purpose of expanding direct flights, either commercial or chartered, not only toward the Philippines' key destinations but also to the emerging destinations across the country," she added.

The DoT implemented programs and initiatives such as visa reforms and airport improvements to encourage more travelers to visit the country, including the launch of the Philippine Experience Program, as well as familiarization tours and regional expos to attract not only tourists but also potential investors.

"This award fuels our commitment to continue pushing for the enhancement of connectivity and delivering top-notch airport services to our passengers through the healthy collaboration of our government air transportation agencies and private sector partners," Frasco said.

According to CRK, the award from Routes Asia 2024 "follows CRK's exceptional performance in 2023, when it demonstrated significant growth by efficiently handling nearly two million passengers."

"This outstanding achievement presents a remarkable 160 percent increase from the preceding 12 months, manifesting the airport's resilience and robust recovery amid challenging circumstances," the CRK said in a statement.

The CRK serves local connections to the country's top destinations, including Palawan, Cebu and Boracay, among others.

This year, the DoT expects 7.7 million foreign visitor arrivals as a baseline.