Divers prepare their equipment before diving on Feb. 27 at the sea off Pescador Island in Moalboal town, south Cebu. | PHOTO: Dale ISrael of Inquirer Visayas
CEBU CITY––Popular tourist destinations in southern Cebu are ready to welcome more foreign and local visitors after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation brought about by Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai).
The provincial government has reopened Pescador Island in Moalboal town, a favorite spot among international divers, especially Europeans.
Whale shark watching in Oslob town has also seen its first batch of foreign visitors alongside local travelers on Saturday.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia led the reopening on Feb. 27 of Pescador Island by diving with other local officials and diving enthusiasts.
Typhoon “Odette” damaged Pescador Island heavily when it hit southern Cebu on Dec. 16, 2021.
Rough waves ruined some of its coral formations, while the storm, the strongest to hit the province in 30 years, destroyed tourist boats.
Moalboal town is located 87 kilometers southwest of Cebu City and directly faces Tañon Strait, a protected seascape and haven for whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and other exotic marine animals.
Aside from diving, the town is also famous for its “sardine run,” where tourists snorkel and watch schools of fish near the coast.
The town also boasts white sand beaches.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and other provincial government officials lead the reopening on Feb. 27 of Pescador Island by diving at the sea. | PHOTO: Dale Israel of Inquirer Visayas
In Oslob town, foreign visitors have started to arrive for the first time in two years since the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.
At least 30 foreign nationals were the first ones to visit Oslob and experience whale shark watching last Feb. 26. Most of the visitors were local tourists who enjoyed the long weekend in their town.
The 10-room Sharkey Hostel in Oslob had four foreign bookings in March and April through Hostel World, a booking website.
Hostel owner Zenaida Nepomuceno said they have started getting foreign visitors.
Last Saturday, she said foreign visitors included Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, French, and Indians.
“Please come and enjoy whale watching right now because we need you all and we are open already. Please help our tourism to boom again like before,” Nepomuceno said.
Before the pandemic, she said her hostel was usually fully booked.
Vendor Evangeline Lugas said they had shifted to selling corn since there were not yet enough foreign tourists.
Corn is popular only with domestic tourists.
Lugas hoped that more foreign tourists would arrive soon, like the pre-pandemic times when she sold more fruits, Korean noodles, Korean drinks, and the like.
Lugas and Nepomuceno said foreign tourists were their primary targets because they would bring in more money.
Before COVID-19, Oslob was visited daily by close to a thousand foreign visitors because of whale shark watching.
They hoped that more foreign visitors would come as the country eases further its restrictions.