C. Visayas tourists in 2012 seen to surpass 2.5M target
The Department of Tourism regional chief is optimistic that Central Visayas will surpass its target of 2.5 million tourists in 2012 and announced that another 100,000 would be added to the region’s tourist arrival targets this year.
Director Rowena Montecillo, DOT-7 regional director, said based on the tourism department’s data, the region’s tourist arrivals already reached 2.4 million as of October.
“We are currently finalizing our figures to be released soon but as of October, we are already at 2.4 million count. We still have November and December which are traditionally peak months for the region,” said Montecillo.
Montecillo attributed the More Fun in the Philippines campaign and the aggressive marketing in new markets like India and the Middle East and Japan as contributing to the region meeting its targets for 2012.
Domestic travelers
As of the latest data release by DOT, Central Visayas had 1.9 million visitors, majority are domestic travellers with 1.1 million total visitors and foreign visitors with a total of 787,312 tourists visiting the region as of August.
The region’s diversity in terms of activities and destinations makes it still a major contributor to the overall tourism turnout of the country.
“What we offer in Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor continues to be attractive among tourists especially our major markets Korea, Japan and the United States of America and also the domestic market which is fueled by the many promos offered by the airline companies serving the region,” said Montecillo.
Biggest market
Korea remains the biggest market with 38 percent of the total foreign tourists or 296,168 Koreans who came to the region as of August.
Majority of the Koreans or 96 percent came to Cebu.
The group registered a 10.21 percent growth compared to that of the same period in 2011.
The second biggest group is Japan with 20.13 percent share or 139,215 as of August. The market grew by 24.33 percent
The United States remains a top market despite the economic challenges the country experienced.
There were 72,065 American tourists or a 10.42 percent share—an 11.34 percent jump from that of 2011.
Montecillo added that the department is now actively working with other government agencies to help the industry from the government’s end.
The most relevant action from the government that will directly impact the industry is the expansion of the Mactan Cebu International Airport terminal which is set to start this year once the bidding for the contractor will be done.
Cooperation
According to Dominic Dorol, Imperial Palace Waterpark and Resort director of sales and marketing, said industry players would like to see more cooperation between government agencies and the private sector.
“Better cooperation in the different branches and departments of the government. DOT needs the help of DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communication) for roads and infrastructure. They need CHED (Commission on Higher Education) and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) to educate and train future hoteliers,” Dorol said.
Dorol added that Cebu industry players are doing a good thing now cooperating with the public sector which he said will further help the industry.
According to former Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu president Hans Hauri, the industry is set to expand further this year with 500 more new rooms expected to open this year.
