Cebu eyes big time as international cruise destination

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The province of Cebu is seeking to join the growing number of local areas being positioned as an international cruise destination, as part of an aggressive strategy to further promote the region as a prime tourist spot.

Rowena Y. Montecillo, director for the Department of Tourism in Region 7, disclosed in a press briefing that Cebu City has in fact started receiving cruise lines, the latest of which was last week, wherein a group of some 1,000 guests stayed here overnight.

“Yes, we do want to be included in the map (of international cruise lines). Right now, we have some problems with the port area but the Cebu Port Authority is looking into that. They are looking at another place or another town very near Cebu City to transfer all of these cargo ships so that we can allow the Cebu International Port, or Port 6 or Pier 6 to really concentrate on cruise liners,” Montecillo said.

The tourism official added that the construction of a new international container port in Consolacion, a first class municipality in Cebu, would hopefully push through and be completed so that the DOT in Region 7 could already aggressively sell Cebu City as a global cruise destination.

Montecillo said many of the global cruise companies have expressed interest in Cebu primarily because of existing tour packages for those wanting to stay overnight. Cruise companies could also sell Bohol as another destination via Cebu. Add to that is the fact that Cebu is the second destination outside Manila as it can offer “almost the same things that Manila can offer with pluses.”

“For now, it’s really just the problem on the ships’ docking area at Pier 6. But as I’ve said, the Cebu Ports Authority is already addressing that issue,” she further said.

The DOT has since been in talks with some of the biggest cruise companies in the world as it seeks to position the Philippines as a global cruise ship destination.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon Jr.  said in an interview last June that the Philippines could position for cruise tourism in two aspects, namely getting international cruise lines to increase calls in Manila and other ports, and getting more foreign cruise ships being home-ported and doing inter-island cruises.

Bengzon disclosed that potential areas where the big cruise lines can dock included Manila, Boracay, Puerto Princesa and Subic. For the expedition type of cruises, which carry 300 or less passengers, the Philippines can also offer Hundred Islands, Kalanggaman, Romblon, and Coron, among other islands.

“What we want in the short term is to increase the number of cruise ships calling port in the Philippines. But strategically, we stand to benefit more if we are able to convince these cruise ships to set up operations in the Philippines. We also want to have stronger presence in the major cruise events,” Bengzon had said.

Last year, the Philippine envoy to Washington disclosed that three of the world’s leading cruise companies have expressed interest to help develop the Philippines as a cruise ship destination. These cruise companies were identified as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines. SFM