Sari-sari stores eyed as tourism potential

Sari-sari store operators are urged to improve their potential as part of the tourism attraction in Cebu, and provide good tourism-oriented services.

Tourism prime mover Jay P. Aldeguer said he will tap the upcoming Cebu Business Month's (CBM 2007) Entrepreneurship component event to invite interested sari-sari store owners to be active in promoting the tourism potential of Cebu.

"I know it's an ambitious thing to get the sari-sari stores involve in the tourism industry in Cebu, but we have to start mobilizing this plan now," Aldeguer said.

With the initiative of telecommunication companies to provide some sari-sari stores opportunity in offering mini-Internet Café in their stores, is a good start for sari-sari stores to attract tourists, especially in the tourism hotspots in rural towns in Cebu.

"With Internet offering, sari-sari stores are now more empowered to expand their product offerings, from micro-retail to Internet retail," he added.

If sari-sari store owners could group together, and create an association, Aldeguer plans to tap the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide assistance to this sector.

"We have to utilize the presence of the sari-sari stores, especially in the far-flung towns that have great tourism attractions. There are hundreds of them from north to south," Aldeguer said.

Aldeguer whose business Island Souvenirs Inc. started as a cottage industry, providing souvenir goods to tourists in Cebu, is now sharing his experience on how to fully capitalize tourism for business.

He said shopping is always an important component for tourism, in rural areas, sari-sari stores are the most accessible shopping facility for personal necessities, this sector should be well taken cared of.

Once organized, he said he will find ways to look for facilities offered by the government through DTI to help this sector.

"Many micro to small and medium entrepreneurs in Cebu do not fully capitalized the potential of tourism. They have to realize that there is a huge potential for growth in their businesses," he added.

For sari-sari store owners, their perspective should not only limit to providing goods to their respective neighborhood, but they have to expand their business targets and product lines-- providing tourism oriented products, he said.

Besides, he said sari-sari store per se is already a tourism attraction. If other destinations all over the world have convenience stores to support the tourism facilities, in the Philippines, there are sari-sari stores- a home-based necessity store.