CCCI, Capitol form teams to help Suroy-suroy last

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is closely working with the Cebu provincial government to help institutionalize its “Suroy-Suroy” program on rural tourism.

Dr. Mila Espina, Cebu Business Month (CBM) Tourism chairperson, said on Tuesday that teams have been formed with travel and tour companies, for this program.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia during meetings with Espina, said she wanted the program to be sustainable and continude after her term ends in 2013.

Garcia said she wanted towns to be able to offer their own tourism packages for foreign and local visitors.

Espina, during the 888 News Forum on Tuesday, said that she and the tourism teams have been meeting to discuss aspects of each town to develop.

Espina said that this was still the “tip of the iceberg” to promote the best of Cebu.

She encouraged the academe to participate in the program.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, chairperson of the committee on tourism, said that three months ago, Balamban town conducted a small version of the Suroy-Suroy using small vans to bring visitors around the town.

Visitors were shown Balamban’s zipline and Adventure Café in barangay Gaas and the shipbuilding compound of Tsuneshi Heavy Industries.

Magpale said the town showed it was capable of handling its own tour.

“Some mayors want it (Suroy-suroy) institutionalized,” Magpale said.

A plan to cluster towns by threes to have a more interesting tourism package was discussed.

Magpale said that a few towns have presented their sample tour packages.

These are being evaluated.

Last month, Ronda town Mayor Mariano Blanco III who visited the Capitol told Cebu Daily News that southern towns of Ronda, Alcantara and Moalboal have agreed to team up for a “RAM” tourism package.