Cebu tourism figures hail DOT secretary

SEVERAL tourism stakeholders in Cebu welcomed the appointment of incoming tourism secretary Ramon Reyes Jimenez Jr. and assured their support.

Cebu City Tourism commissioner and former Waterfront hotel manager Marco Protacio said Jimenez’s background as an advertising executive will serve him well in his job.

“He will take the country’s tourism industry to the next level,” Protacio said.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who chairs the Provincial Board’s (PB) tourism committee, said she hopes that Cebu won’t be left out of the national government’s tourism program especially with Cebu’s status as a premier tourist destination.

Magpale said she hopes Jimenez will promote Cebu as vigorously as former tourism secretary Ace Durano, who is a nephew.

“We are not asking for too much since Cebu is a top destination outside Metro Manila. We will do our best. We hope that he will support us,” she said.

Magpale said she heard good things about Jimenez and she trusts President Aquino made the right choice when he appointed him.

“He’s into marketing, its an added qualification,” she said.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she was hopeful that Jimenez will help promote Cebu and assured Jimenez he can expect the same enthusiastic support from the Capitol.

“As he comes with very positive reviews, based on his previous experience and his career, then we are hopeful that we should be able to come up with a clear, defined and consistent tourism strategy,” Garcia said.

Regional Director Rowena Montecillo of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) said Jimenez can count on support from their staff and other stakeholders in the region. Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan and Carmel Loise Matus