MANILA, May 8 -- The restoration of air links between the Philippines and New Zealand will help increase two-way tourism and trade between the two countries, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday.

In a meeting with newly-designated New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine Rosemary McIntosh in Malacanang, Marcos said the two countries' respective regulators and carriers should discuss the idea of reestablishing direct air links.

"Filipinos would love to go to New Zealand. And I do believe that New Zealanders would like to see the Philippines as well," Marcos said, as quoted in a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) news release.

"So, I think that's another area of interest that we should explore and hope to pro...