Cebu tourism industry ‘to reach new heights’ with Apec Meeting, 2016 Int’l Eucharistic Conference

Cebu Governor-elect Hilario Davide III challenged tourism stakeholders to prepare well for two big events that “will put Cebu on the world stage”.

He said the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting and the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016 would test the hosting capability of Cebu and was an “unprecedented opportunity” for growth and prestige.

“We cannot simply let these opportunities pass,” he said at the 2013 Tourism Congress in Cebu City on Friday.

He asked the conference, which gathered experts, tourism operators, and hotel and restaurant management students, to give their “realistic and achievable suggestions” on “how to push Cebu tourism to new heights.”

Cebu is bidding to host principal meetings of leaders of the 21-nation Apec, which includes US President Barrack Obama and state leaders of China and European nations.

Malacañang is expected to announce this month which city — Cebu, Manila, Davao among the frontrunners – will be the main venue of the Philippine’s turn to host the annual international meeting of economic leaders.

Davide said hosting duties require not just government action but “what our communities and local businesses can do” but that he was confident that all sectors would pull together to make a difference for Cebu.

The 2013 Tourism Congress held at Marco Polo Plaza was organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of the celebration of Cebu Business month.

In his speech at noon, Davide said his administration, which starts on July 1, wants to make tourism “sustainable by engaging the local communities and tourism stakeholders in planning” in a “bottoms-up approach” and running tours all year round.

“I believe in giving support to local government units to develop  their own tourism products  that also promote their natural heritage through community-based tourism,” he said.

Davide urged operators to highlight “Cebu’s heritage and traditions”, as he encouraged towns and cities to “support old houses and buildings to be converted to homestays, cafes and bed-and-breakfast inns” so they can be sustainable , local enterprises.

Davide said tourism is about Cebu’s “rich heritage” that promotes a sense of pride and “not just about economics”

He mentioned that when he and his family would take holidays visiting different local destinations ,“we ve come to realize that our country has so much to be proud of , to share with and offer to the rest of the world.”

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who was a speaker in the morning session of the Congress, Suroy-Suroy Sugbo countryside tours would continue in the new administration but with some format changes.

She recalled that the tour project was conceptualized by the CCCI’s tourism committee under Tetta Baad in 1985 and presented to the Cebu provincial government, which later led the tours.

“This is what Cebuanos want – to showcase the towns because there’s more to see beyond Metro Cebu,” said Magpale.

She said the tour format and packages were modified starting this year, to focus on the destinations.

Facilities and tourism products have to be continuously upgraded to meet demands of visitors.

“Success is not a destiny but a journey well planned, we at the province will continue to be with you,” said Magpale.

Central Visayas had 739,958 tourists as of March this year, which is a 13.55 percent increase from year ago levels, according to the Department of Tourism. Cebu accounts for most of the visitors, with Koreans topping the list of foreign tourists, said DOT Regional Director Rowena Montecillo.

During an open forum,  the issue of dive fees being charged in Oslob and other towns was raised.

According to Pascale Meyner, manager of Sea Explorers Cebu office, when they bring divers to Oslob, they pay a total of P400 in fees including a P200 camera fee, P150 diving fee and P50 foreign visitor’s fee. Pascale said they are wondering where all these fees go because they don’t see anything being done to protect the marine sites. “We bring about 200 divers every month including European, Americans, Australians and Asians and they felt the increase in fees but the sites were deteriorating, so we are asking that these fees should be regulated,” said Meyner. Vice Governor Magaple said that  local governments are empowered to impose fees but promised to loook into the issue of unreasonable rates.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Benito Bengzon, a keynote speaker in the morning, said this complaint of varying dive fees was an issue in other parts of the country as well.

“This is an issue that has to be regulated. Increase of fees is acceptable provided it goes back as services and maintenance operations to preserve the sites. We will take this up with the LGUs,” said Bengzon. In November this year, the World Ecotourism Conference will be held in Cebu with marine ecotourism as a theme. Bengzon said it was important to protect the country’s natural resources  because of the huge potential of ecotourism.

The improvement of airports and other infrastructure is also a top priority of DOT and the Department of Public Works and Highways has  “convergence” program, he said.

“The goal for 2016 is 10 million foreign tourists, he said ”and 2013 is a crucial year with the target at 5 million. We are doing so many things to push tourism including more promotions and developing new markets,” said Bengzon. As of April this year, about 1.4 million foriegn tourists  visited the country, a 10 percent growth compared to that of the same period last year. Bengzon said the DOT is promoting the Philippines in new markets in India, Russia, the Middle East, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand./Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap