Islands Banca Cruises to go full swing by '09

A newly established company Islands Banca Cruises Corporation is set to acquire and accredit 15 bancas, as the company sets to go full swing by summer of 2009 taking advantage of the promising sea and island-based adventure tourism in Cebu, and other neighboring islands in the Visayas.

Islands Banca Cruises, Corporation, a company under the Islands Group of the Islands Souvenirs Inc. (ISI) holding firm, started its operations in May of this year, to elevate the services offered for island-hopping and other water-sports activities in Cebu.

The company, which incurred a small capitalization of P2 million to start with three "banca' or wooden vessels, is now getting to a more serious business, professionalizing and improving this business formerly categorized as a cottage industry, operated by mostly fishermen bringing travelers to small islands for site-seeing, snorkeling, and diving, among others.

A banca is an archetypical Philippine boat, fundamentally, a sturdy, deep-hulled outrigger canoe designed primarily for inter-island transport. Despite being very simple, almost rustic, a banca is a stable, reliable and fast vessel.

An Island Banca, on the other hand, is a more streamlined, elegantly styled, and efficient version of the traditional motorized banca, fondly called a "pumpboat." It combines the versatility and speed of a classic banca, with the convenience and reliability of modern transport and travel.

Because of this huge business potential in helping to promote the emerging"adventure tourism" component of Cebu, the company will be formally launched this coming weekened to be graced by no less than Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Joseph Ace Durano.

In a press conference held Tuesday, Islands Banca Cruises, Corporation president and chief executive officer (CEO) Jay P. Aldeguer said that in Cebu, there is a big market for Island Hopping service, including other water sport activities.

"We are going to have our 'all out' expansion next year, before summer. The company will at least acquire or outsource 15 vessels to be on standby to accommodate our increasing demands for island-hopping packages," Aldeguer said.

"Adventure tourism is picking up. The Philippines is pushing adventure tourism. Gone were the days that hotels, and resorts were one of the main attractions. Now, guests would like to go out from their hotels/resorts and constantly trying to look for activities outside," Aldeguer said.

As of now, while the company has only maintained three vessels, the 35-40 seater "Butanding", the medium-sized "Butete" and the smallest "Bulinao" that can only accommodate 20 people (including the crew), the company is doing outsourcing deals with existing boat owners in Mactan Island, if bookings can not be accommodated by the three boats.

Aside from island hopping, the new company also offers other water-sport activities such as snorkeling, dive safaris (Malapascua, Moalboal, Bohol and Dumaguete); fish feeding (Gilutungan, Nalusuan and Talima); Lechon Barbeque Picnic in several islets in Cebu like Pandanon, Gilutungan, Nalusuan and Camugi, Sunset Diners; Dolphin Watching (Sogod, Camotes); Kayaking (Mactan, Olango and Gilutungan).

Unlike the traditional pumpboat ride, Islands Banca offers beverages, light snacks, and toiletries and Spa (service) on board, with comfortable bean bags. It also offers water-sports equipment for rent.

Realizing the growing sophisticated market that can not last a day without being connected to the Internet, Aldeguer said the boats will soon be WiFi ready, while iPod ready set-up is already installed.

"I am excited about the company," he said explaining that although there is a strong temptation to offer similar services in other provinces, like Boracay and Bohol, he said "Cebu market is more than enough for us [right now] to keep us busy." – Ehda M. Dagooc