Cebu Pacific seeks extended travel tax exemption for some SE Asia routes
In this article (5)
Cebu Pacific on Tuesday urged the government to extend the travel tax exemption on routes within Palawan, Mindanao and neighboring Southeast Asian countries, which expires next month.
Travelers coming from the two Philippine islands who are going to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia were exempted from the P1,620 duty for 3 years from Oct. 24, 2014 to promote BIMP-EAGA, a Southeast Asian growth area.
President Rodrigo Duterte also recently pushed for the revitalization of the BIMP-EAGA or the Brunei-Indoneseia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area.
“We believe that this would provide relief to the Filipino travelers and accelerate trade and tourism between the member countries, in accordance with the spirit and intent behind the creation of BIMP-EAGA,” said Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs JR Mantaring.
The Mindanao Development Authority serves as the Coordinating Office of the Philippines for BIMP-EAGA.
Cebu Pacific subsidiary Cebgo will start its Zamboanga-Sandakan route on October 29, 2017. The 4 times weekly service (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays) is the carrier’s 27th international destination.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which routes is Cebu Pacific hoping to see the travel tax exemption extended for?
Which routes is Cebu Pacific hoping to see the travel tax exemption extended for?
Cebu Pacific is seeking an extension of the travel tax exemption for routes connecting Palawan and Mindanao with Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This exemption aims to support the BIMP-EAGA growth area.
Q.What was the previous duration and value of the travel tax exemption for these routes?
What was the previous duration and value of the travel tax exemption for these routes?
The previous travel tax exemption for these routes lasted three years, from October 24, 2014. It waived a P1,620 duty for travellers coming from Palawan and Mindanao to the specified Southeast Asian countries.
Q.What is the purpose of the BIMP-EAGA initiative?
What is the purpose of the BIMP-EAGA initiative?
The BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area) initiative aims to accelerate trade and tourism among its member countries. President Duterte has recently advocated for its revitalisation.
Q.Which new international route is Cebu Pacific's subsidiary Cebgo launching soon?
Which new international route is Cebu Pacific's subsidiary Cebgo launching soon?
Cebu Pacific subsidiary Cebgo will launch a new Zamboanga-Sandakan route on October 29, 2017. This service will operate four times a week and marks the carrier's 27th international destination.
Reader pulse
Should the travel tax exemption be extended?
22,668 votes so far