DAVAO CITY - Xiamen Air will fly direct to Jinjiang in China from Davao City starting December 18.

The flights are set twice a week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

A direct flight from Davao to Hong Kong has also been mounted via Cathay Dragon.

Chinese nationals ranked third among foreign visitors in Davao this year from January to November. United States topped the list followed by Japan. Korea ranked fourth while Australia placed fifth.

Davao City’s tourism office has also started accrediting more tour guides who are fluent in Mandarin in preparation for the expected increase in Chinese tourists.

According to Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (DCCCII), the direct flight is a big opportunity to attract more tourists and investors in the city.

“The direct flight will definitely bring tourists. investors start as tourists,” said John Carlo Tria, DCCCII’s Vice President for Professional Service Ventures.

Last November 13, Davao City government signed a sisterhood agreement with Jinjiang.

Aside from the direct flight, there are also exchange tourism and cultural agreements, one of which is the establishment of Confucius Institute in Ateneo de Davao University which will be headed by a Chinese director.