Mabuhay Miles, Globe Give Free Sims to PAL Passengers

The International Business Group of Globe Telecom partnered with Mabuhay Miles to make it easier for balikbayans, OFWs, and travelers to get in touch with their loved ones when they reach the Philippines via free Traveler sim cards distributed to passengers on PAL’s international flights to Manila.

“We continuously strive to serve the needs of our dear OFWs, balikbayans and tourists. Through the partnership with Mabuhay Miles, we have created an avenue where our customers are able to enjoy their homecoming by means of instant communication as soon as they land,” said Nikko Acosta, Senior Vice President of the International Business Group of Globe Telecom.

Since Dec. 14, 2016, the Traveler sim has been distributed to passengers on PAL international flights for free. As a bonus, customers can avail of unlimited calls to Globe and TM mobiles, 20 all-net SMS and 15MB mobile data valid for one day.

“Through this partnership with Globe, we are very happy to give our Mabuhay Miles customers a more enriching in-flight experience by making them feel we are making their trip to the Philippines more rewarding,” said Kevin Hartigan-Go, PAL vice president for Ancillary Business Unit. “As of today, we have supplied hundreds of thousands of PAL passengers with free sim cards and we cannot wait to give to more!” Hartigan-Go added.

Mabuhay Miles will give 500 bonus miles when Traveler Sim customers register or update their membership information.

New members need to enroll at www.mabuhaymiles.com and text their Mabuhay Miles number using the Traveler sim to 3456. Existing members can update their profile by texting their Mabuhay Miles number, name and email address to 3456. Passengers can buy prepaid load at the Globe booths at NAIA 2 (PAL terminal), other international airports nationwide, and at over 800,000 Globe retailers around the country.

Tourist arrivals in Clark up 2.27% in 2016

Clark’s world-class tourism facilities and services continue to attract foreign and local visitors as seen in the increase in last year’s tourist arrivals here by 2.27 percent or by 42,622.

The Tourism Promotions Division of Clark Development Corporation (TPD-CDC), in its report, stated that Clark registered a total of 1,916,700 tourists in 2016 compared to 1,874,078 in 2015.

Between 2015 and 2016, tourist arrivals to Clark International Airport rose from 423,332 to 457,283.

In 2016, 1,106,535 visitors registered as hotel guests, of which 352,882 were day tourists.

Other major visitor points include passenger arrivals in Clark airport, educational tours, guests at Clark Museum, special events and use of parks and open spaces here.

CDC president and CEO Noel F. Manankil recognized tourism as a strong driver of social and economic development.

Only 90 kilometers away from Manila, the availability of accessible venues and services provide guests various choices on where to go and to book.

Some of the efforts to promote tourism here include the staging of CDC-organized Clark Festival 2016, which posted an estimated 26,350 visitors last December 3 and 4 as compared to 23,000 visitors in 2015.

It also set a record having collected PHP1.890 million worth of sponsorships which was the highest since its inception in 2013.

Clark is also a preferred venue for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).

This Freeport hosted the APEC 1st Senior Officials Meeting (APEC SOM 1) in 2016 and will be one of the sites for Association of South East Asian Nation leaders (ASEAN) summit 2017.

Also, it was named the Sports Destination of the Year for hosting various sports tourism events, including racing competitions, Frisbee games, car shows, and the well-attended Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta which attracts more than 110,000 local and foreign visitors yearly.

At present, Clark has more than 2,000 hotel rooms, 63 convention and meeting facilities, 75 dining facilities, eight wellness facilities, and five hospitals.

The Freeport also has six casinos, four golf courses, international racetrack and other sports facilities, including seven shopping centers, 20 banks, 12 convenience stores and six petrol depot.(PNA)LAP/zst/MDDR