CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Tourism is bent on strengthening its promotional efforts to international markets despite threats of the global pandemic influenza affecting some target markets of the Philippines.
"As far as our efforts on developing international markets, we are staying on course plotted for the year. At this point in time, the vigilant monitoring by the Department of Health for possible swine flu victims is enough," said Durano.
"We continuously give updates to our partners here and abroad of efforts being done by the government and the fact that the Philippines continues to be swine flu-free. Accurate information is crucial to maintain market confidence," Durano added.
Earlier, local tourism players in Cebu announced its joint efforts to protect Cebu from being contaminated with the deadly virus.
For his part, Skal International-Cebu president Charles Lim said that the local association, along with DOT regional office here will be initiating several fronts, marketing-wise to increase tourists’ arrivals to Cebu and other neighboring provinces in Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, Lim announced that along with DoT-7 regional director Director Patria Aurora Roa, resort-hotel managers, airline executives and travel agents, will make up the Cebu delegation to the 38th Asian Skal Congress in Incheon, South Korea later this month.
Although one swine flu victim has already been recorded in South Korea, Lim said Skal-Cebu and the DoT 7 will still participate in the international Skal event, even aggressively campaigning for Cebu and Central Visayas as a leisure and business destination in Asia.
“We need to act fast instead of being passive and reactionary to global events,” Lim said, adding that Skal-Cebu is now starting to drum up interests to lure international and domestic tourists to Cebu.
According to Skal-Cebu statement, the group is calling for more focus on re-launching Cebu to the traditional markets with direct air linkage to Cebu.
Lim said he has observed that the “marketing neglect” of these markets from Cebu is “deplorable.” He urged the private sector to rally behind the DoT to increase and sustain its marketing effort in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan – all countries with direct air linkage to Cebu.
Skal-Cebu hopes to spearhead sales missions to these countries apart from tapping new markets like India where he said the presence of Skal is very strong.