The first direct flight from Xiamen to Caticlan – near Boracay Island – departed with all 180 seats taken on June 22.

Fu Xinwei, Consul General of the Philippines in Xiamen, saw them off at the airport.

It is described said that this is the first straight direct flight to Boracay Island fromin Fujian province, which can enormously narrow the distance between Xiamen and this world-class island. It will be easier to go on a holiday at in Boracay in the days to come.

Before the direct flight was initiated, both group and single travelers had to transfer in Manila, capital of the Philippines. A long and tiring journey was inevitable. Zeng Xu, General Manager of the Xiamen branch of the China International Travel Service Corporation Limited (CITS) said that "it takes 2.5 hours from Xiamen to Manila by plane.

Even if the flights are well linked, it is necessary to allow two hours for transfer. Also, it takes 1 hour from Manila to Caticlan airport, followed by a ferry to Boracay Island itself, so the entire voyage may take 5.5 hours". As compared with 400,000 of Korean people who take a holiday in Boracay each year, China merely makes 100,000 annual visits , so the tourist market to Boracay Island is huge.

There are two group travel products to Boracay to choose from: 5499 yuan for 5 days and 4999 yuan for 4 days. Both refer to a semi-self-service journey. Moreover, in order to satisfy young travelers for an unorganized island holiday, CITS has also launched a travel product at a cost of 3999 yuan ($643). It is learnt that all seats of the three flights in June have been taken and the flights in July are already getting filled.