Tacloban city: The opening of air routes connecting this city to Iloilo and Davao strengthen connectivity between Visayas and the Mindanao region, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Thursday. Department of Tourism (DOT) 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said the new flights to the regional capital offer travelers greater convenience and accessibility. According to Philippines News Agency, Cebu Pacific launched its new routes on October 29: Iloilo-Tacloban-Iloilo, operating four times weekly (every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday), and Davao-Tacloban-Davao, operating three times per week (every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday). Tiopes highlighted that flights between Tacloban and Davao are crucial for promoting the region to the Mindanao market and positioning Tacloban as a MICE destination. MICE, which stands for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events/exhibitions, is one of the DOT's major programs aimed at attracting more tourists and visitors. Tacloban City, along with Or moc City and Baybay City, is being positioned by the regional tourism office as a MICE destination in Eastern Visayas due to the availability of facilities, such as convention centers and large hotels capable of accommodating many visitors. The Iloilo-Tacloban-Iloilo flights will enhance connectivity between islands in the Visayas and support the proposed 'One Visayas' initiative. Tiopes mentioned that under the program, set to launch in December, tour operators have been identified to manage the costing and develop thematic tour programs for the three Visayas regions. She further noted that connectivity is not an issue due to available flights to Cebu and Iloilo, making the long-haul tour appealing to inbound foreign guests. The Iloilo-Tacloban-Iloilo flights, initially offered in 2012, were halted after a year due to the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.