AIRSWIFT Transport Inc. has launched direct flights from Manila to Sicogon Island Tourism Estate (SITE), making the northern Iloilo island destination more accessible to tourists.
In a statement, the airline subsidiary of the Ayala Land, Inc, (ALI) said it began flights from Manila to SITE using the 48-seater ATR 42-600 last October 10.
Early morning flights depart Manila to Sicogon every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, with the return flights by mid-morning.
“Sicogon has fantastic potential and we believe it will become one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the country over the next decade. We are delighted with the opportunity for AirSWIFT to provide connections to Sicogon,” Alfonso Javier Reyes, AirSWIFT president and CEO, said.
AirSWIFT plans to eventually offer daily flights, as development at Sicogon island continues.
Ayala Land is developing the 1,100-hectare SITE as a “self-contained resort community” surrounded by the beach and sea. It can also be used as a jump-off point to tourist destinations like Gigantes Group of Island and the heritage homes of Silay, Negros Occidental.
To preserve the island, ALI is developing only 20% or 200 hectares of the area will be developed.
Sicogon currently has different accommodations, ranging from the 26-room bed and breakfast Balay Kagon, and the 52-room Huni, ALI’s boutique resort brand.
Named after the “hum of the sea” (huni ng dagat), Huni offers standard 28 square meter (sq.m.) rooms and 41 sq.m. family rooms.
ALI said that it will open the Drift Hostel by December. Drift will offer an initial 20 rooms, targeting millennials and backpackers.
By December, activities in Sicogon will include trail biking, cliff diving, and rocky beach trek, in addition to treks to Mt. Opao, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle-boarding. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR