Aside from business and leisure travelers, the Central Visayas region is now starting to attract film makers particularly from the Korean film crews.
At least two movie outfits are already shooting some scenes here.
Rowena Montecillo, Department of Tourism regional director, yesterday said they were pleased with the new group of Koreans visiting the region and shooting some of their scenes here in Cebu and Bohol because it would not only add more tourist traffic from South Korea but it could also help promote Cebu through the scenes they shoot.
MANGO TREE
The first movie, which was shot here and in Bohol from June 12 to 28, was a romantic comedy titled “Mango Tree” of Lee Film Co. Cinema.
“It’s a romantic comedy about the complicated love of youths directed by Lee Soo-seong starring Seo Ji-seok, Hong Soo-ah, Joo Ah-seong, Han Soo-ah and more.”
The Mactan Cebu International Airport, Basilica del Sto. Niño and Fort San Pedro, Maribago Bluewater Cebu, Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Baclayon Balwarte, Corella Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary and Dolphin Watching in Panglao, Bohol are among the areas where the group had their shooting.
Another film, which was endorsed by the Department of Tourism Korea, was “Woman Show”.
“This is a highly watched television show for ladies in Korea that aims to re-feature the Philippines as a destination of interest,” said Montecillo.
Gwendolyn S. Batoon, DOT head for North Asia said that last year DOT also hosted the Manila filming which generated extensive publicity mileage for the country.
FEATURE PH
“This time they will be returning to the country and once again feature the Philippines with a new host Sung Ryeong Kim and other celebrities to cover Cebu from June 26 to July 2,” said
Batoon.
Montecillo said that they are giving all their support to the group to ensure the smooth shooting of their scenes in the
region.
“These visits will help promote the Philippines as an interest for tourist destination and we are expecting an increase in tourist arrivals from this lucrative Filming Group market,” Montecillo said.
Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort marketing communications manager Aileen Brunio said that they are happy to have been selected as one of the major site for the shoots.
“This will definitely help not only our property but Cebu as a whole especially the first movie ‘Mango Tree’ which features very Cebuano products and sites,” Brunio said.
She added that the title itself “Mango Tree” is already very Cebuano which is why they were also selected for the shoot because of the very Filipino “feel” design and architecture of their
property.
“Hopefully we will have more of their groups here not only from Korea but also from other countries soon. The scenes that they will be shooting will be seen around the world and will definitely help promote Cebu and Bohol further,” Montecillo said.
This year, Central Visayas tourist arrival target is pegged at 2.6 million which Montecillo said she is confident to achieve with Cebu’s growing popularity in the global tourism map.
TOURISTS
As of the first quarter this year, Central Visayas already had 840,237 tourist arrival which was 13.55 percent higher than only 739,958 in the same period last year.
Out of the total arrivals, Cebu has the biggest share of 631,674 arrivals or 75 percent of the total arrivals in the region. About 48.4 percent who came to Cebu are foreign tourists.
Domestic travelers remain to be the biggest group that came to the region as of March with 471,476 recorded during the period.
Korea still tops the list for foreign tourists followed by Japan, United States of America, China and Australia.