Holiday Factory, the leading tour operator in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has launched its services for affordable tour packages in the Philippines.

On the sidelines of the Holiday Factory launch in Pasig City Monday, its business development director for international markets Hakan Bakar told the Philippine News Agency that the Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia where it offered its budget-friendly holiday trip packages.

“We are in Dubai, we are in Georgia, and this is the first one here in Southeast Asia,” Bakar said.

He said the company has opened its customer care center in Cebu in 2018 serving its UAE-based clients, with plans of putting up its tour operation business in the country before the coronavirus 2019 pandemic hit.

“There is a rapidly growing middle-income segment in this country, with a high intent for traveling, and especially looking for affordable holiday packages,” Bakar said, adding that more than one-third of the population is booking affordable tour packages.

Most Filipinos also want to book their trips on their own, he said.

Holiday Factory opens in the Philippines offering packages, including return flights, hotel stay with breakfast, airport to hotel transfers, tour guide, and travel insurance, to top local destinations such as Boracay, Puerto Princesa, and Siargao as well as trending international destinations like Bangkok, Hong Kong, Maldives, and Dubai.

Boracay and Puerto Princesa rates are offered for as low as PHP3,499 and from PHP5,499 for a Siargao tour.

A Bangkok tour package starts at PHP11,899, Hong Kong at PHP14,999, Dubai at PHP26,999, and Maldives at PHP32,999.

Departure airports are in Manila, Clark, and Cebu.

Bakar said the company is eyeing to expand its travel destination offerings to include El Nido, Coron, and Bohol. (PNA)