MANILA - Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) has opened a new route to Marinduque, giving the province's tourism industry a boost.

SEAIR said it now flies from Manila to Marinduque every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Marinduque lies south of Quezon, east of Mindoro and north of Romblon. It features untouched beaches and islets, underwater caves, coral reefs, and therapeutic sulfur springs. The island is also popular for the annual Moriones Festival, one of the country's most colorful festivals celebrated during Holy Week.

"SEAIR is doing a unique service to the country in support of its tourism development goals. We are committed to the mission of bringing travelers from the Philippines’ gateways to its many island destinations," said its president Avelino Zapanta.

SEAIR is currently offering up to 27 flights per day to Boracay, and will start daily flights to the island paradise of Batanes on November 10. The airline also recently opened its paradise-to-paradise route from Puerto Princesa to Boracay and vice versa.

SEAIR, the nation's second-oldest airline, has flown almost three million passengers to local destinations including El Nido, Puerto Princesa, Tablas (Romblon), Clark, Zamboanga, Jolo, and Tawi-tawi.