Cebu tourism groups form coalition

Stakeholders and players in Cebu’s tourism industry had decided to form into a coalition to fast track the industry’s developments and to establish a niche in the tourism hubs in other parts of Asia.

This developed as the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines , Peter Sutherland told the various tourism-related groups in Cebu that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is willing to provide technical assistance to Cebu’s tourism industry through its PEARL 2 program (Private Enterprises Accelerated Linkages 2) saying further, “But the industry must organize first and apply for assistance as one.”

Mila Espina, chairperson of the tourism committee of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) said she has already discussed the industry’s need for funding with the Canadian Ambassador, “but he said we have to be a bigger group; we have to unite into a bigger organization without losing the identity of each association,” Espina added.

Espina further said, PEARL 2 has provided financial and technical assistance to the CCCI, Cebu-GTH Manufacturers and Exporters and the Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation Inc. Cebu, in terms of capability building in serving the member organizations, which are mostly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

To achieve this goal, the CCCI invited representatives from the Dept. of Tourism, the academe and various tourism-related organizations i.e. Association of Tour Operators and the Hotel and Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, to a planning meeting recently to respond to the issues and concerns in the industry, primarily on the challenge that the Canadian Ambassador posed to them and other equally important concerns such as the need to establish a ‘Cebu tourism brand’ and to revive the ‘Cebu Plus’ program.

Teodoro Locson, CCCI vice president for external affairs said, the ‘Cebu Plus’ Program was conceptualized by the chamber, identifying 15 safe, clean, compelling, attractive, friendly tourism destinations in the Visayas (that are just a few hours’ travel from Cebu City) that can be promoted with Cebu.

The areas included in the Cebu Plus were: Cebu-Mactan, Southeast Cebu (Carcar to Oslob and Mantalongon); Southwest Cebu (Badian, Pescador, Moalboal); North Cebu (Bogo, San Remegio, Bantayan, Malapascua); Northeast Cebu (Danao, Carmen, Camotes); Bohol; Dumaguete-Siquijor; Boracay, Bacolod Iloilo, Palawan, Tacloban; Guiuan, Surigao, Siargao, Zamboanga, Iligan, Dipolog, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro, and Legaspi, Sorsogon.

Under this program, it was envisioned that Cebu will serve as the hub with the rest of the areas as satellite destinations the complement each other in promoting tourism. However, the program failed to take off due to the opposition by other provinces that branded Cebu as “imperial Cebu.”

Hopefully, with the organization of a coalition and the establishment of the Central Philippines Super-Region, Cebu ’s tourism industry will be given a boost through the cooperation of the various players and stakeholders in the business. (PIA)