Cebu set for East Asian tourism forum

Security will be tight in Metro Cebu especially near the Cebu International Convention Center as 200 delegates arrive for the East Asian Tourism Forum (Eatof) 2011.

Governors from 11 East Asian localities confirmed that they will attend the forum from Sept. 13 to Sept. 17, said Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Policemen will be deployed  in the streets to maintain peace and orders and help secure the delegates, the vice governor said.

The international forum is an annual event where members discuss academic and government concerns in promoting  partnerships for development in tourism, trade and culture.

The members of Eatof are Cebu, Philippines; Jilin, China; Gangwon, Korea; Sarawak, Malaysia; Yogyogarta, Indonesia; Tottori, Japan; Tuv-Mongolia; Primovsky-Russia; Chiang Mai, Thailand and Quang Ninh, Vietnam.

Magpale,  chairperson of the Cebu Provincial Board’s tourism committee, said they are “97 percent prepared” for the Eatof and all working committees are in place.

The province rented an  interpreter’s booth similar to what was used during the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in 2007.

Last year, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia attended the Eatof in Quang Ninh province in Vietnam.

Garcia will assume as leader of the Eatof.

Garcia said the forum, which was primarily for the tourism sector, has evolved into exchanges in trade and culture.

“For the first time in all of its 12 years of existence, there will be a trade and investment forum,” Garcia said.

In the past, the forum only featured  governors’ conferences and academic meetings.

One of the highlights of the forum, Garcia said, is the first Eatof cultural festival.

Delegates will be treated to a day tour of Camotes Islands in north Cebu on the last day of the forum.

They will be accompanied by Magpale since Garcia is slated to meet United States  Ambassador Harry Thomas on Sept. 16.

Garcia yesterday thanked all sectors who assisted the province in organizing the forum.

“We are grateful for the active participation of the private sector in assisting the province. We have as well the very ready cooperation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine National Police,” she said.

Magpale said they are expecting  200 delegates to arrive.

Most of the governors will be billeted in Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa  in Lapu-Lapu City while  others will be staying at Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City’s North Reclamation Area.

Garcia earlier said that because of the goodwill ties, Cebu is hosting several chartered flights from Eatof member provinces in  China, South Korea and Russia.