Direct South Korea-Kalibo flights to give better opportunities for SMEs – DTI
BY VENUS G. VILLANUEVA

KALIBO, Aklan - This is so because these direct flights will be bringing in to Aklan more Korean tourists, who are potential buyers of Aklan’s processed foods, loom-woven products and gifts and housewares, main products of Aklan’s SMEs.
“When these tourists buy our products from Aklan, there will be greater demand for more supplies which will trigger bigger sales, and more people will be given employment,” Pollentes said.
The direct flights will also benefit the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program of the government. OTOP showcases the potentially strong product of all towns. Each of Aklan’s 17 towns has identified its own product for the OTOP program.
Asked on the prospect of Aklan entrepreneurs bringing their products direct to South Korea because of these direct flights, Pollentes said the import/export restrictions of South Korea’s market should be studied first.
“If Aklan’s SMEs plan to bring their products direct to South Korea, we have to do a market study first. Initially, the SMEs should just count on these tourists to buy their products, and let this tourists bring them (the products) home to Korea for the others to see,” Pollentes said.
Presently, the Kalibo Airport is being readied for these direct flights. This latest development is seen to motivate other airlines to have their own direct flights to Kalibo from other various Asian countries.
Airlines initially identified to have direct flights from South Korea this month are the Asian Spirit and Pacific Pearl.