Ayala-Aboitiz venture seen to help spur Cebu tourism

The joint venture of the Ayala and Aboitiz groups who will bid for the passenger terminal project of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will spur tourism in Cebu and help  increase  investor confidence in the province.

Tourism stakeholders in Cebu shared this sentiment.

Islands Group president Jay Aldeguer said he felt reassured  that big companies want to  bid for key Cebu’s infrastructure.

“These established companies have the capability and means to build world-class facilities that will help definitely enhance Cebu competitiveness,” he said.

Ludwig Federigan, Bosconian International Chamber of Commerce president, said the airport project supports the country’s tourism sector and Cebu’s economy.

“With  the Philippines’ latest ranking of 65th in the recent global competitiveness, the focus on public-private partnership should be maintained as this  will contribute to inclusive growth,” he said.

Hans Hauri, Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu president, welcomed the solid interest in upgrading the Mactan airport.

‘It’s exciting to learn that the project is starting soon  so we can reach our target of four million foreign tourists to Cebu by 2016,” Hauri said.

Robert Lim, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent of Travel Agencies in the Philippines, said he hopes  arrangements for the winning bidder should be made public.

“The winning bidder should invite the travel agents and cargo forwarders for updates, especially on the charges on the terminal fees and the disclosure that they will not compete and monopolize the travel and cargo services,” he said.

Joseph cited as an example the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 3 case seven years ago when the winning bidder decided to create their own cargo services that competed with existing cargo forwarding companies.

“And they also planned to increase the terminal fee which defeats the purpose of having the terminal to make it convenient to people. That is what we should avoid from happening here in Cebu,” Joseph said.

Regional Director Rowena Montecillo of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) said she hopes to build a showroom of Cebuano products in the airport area once the terminal is completed.

“We can have a Tindahang Pinoy there and also show our furnitures because we have that here in Cebu. That will complement our airport and make it at par with other airports in the world,” Montecillo said.

In a press statement,  Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel said the venture with the Aboitiz Group signifies their belief in the MCIA as a gateway for international and domestic travelers.

“We share the vision of creating an airport that provides passengers an efficient and pleasant travel experience. We look forward to leveraging each other’s strengths in developing and running a modern airport facility that Cebu and our country can be proud of,” he said.

Zobel cited the Aboitiz Group’s long history and heritage in Cebu and its track record in undertaking major projects in multiple industries.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said the venture gives their company an opportunity to enter into a strategic, new segment that’s crucial in developing the country’s transportation infrastructure and tourism potential.”

While lauding the Ayala-Aboitiz joint venture, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza also reminded the MCIA board to pay its taxes to the city government.

“I welcome the (venture) but I will be remiss in my duty as city mayor, if I will not push them to pay up. The MCIA had been promising to pay what they owe the city,” she said.

The Lapu-Lapu city government is demanding P1.5 billion in unpaid taxes since 1997. The MCIA had questioned this in court, saying the airport is a national government facility. Aileen Garcia-Yap, Reporter  with Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza