IBC, CEB partner to promote Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - To further stimulate domestic travel, the Islands Banca Cruises (IBC) partners with Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) to promote Cebu as the island hopping destination in the Philippines.

Both companies, whose main thrust is to spur the domestic tourism market in the country, agreed to jointly promote Cebu as an island hopping destination, as IBC joins CEB’s “Fun Tours” packages which are easily available through online booking at the latter’s website. 

In a press conference, Island’s Group head for marketing Carlo Borromeo said that while IBC observed an increasing demand for out-of-Cebu bookings for island hopping tours, the Aldeguer-owned company has decided to enhance its market reach through partnering with CEB.

Those with plans of going to Cebu and booking through CEB’s website can easily find IBC’s island hopping tours with choices of going to nearby islets in Cebu like Talima and Gilutungan or Pandanon Island in Bohol.

According to Borromeo, IBC’s packages for island hopping tours are designed to fit the cost-conscious domestic market, while tailored-fit packages are also available depending on the clients’ requirement.

Aside from island hopping, the 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, Sunset Dinners; Dolphin Watching (Sogod, Camotes); and Kayaking (Mactan, Olango and Gilutungan).

“Adventure tourism is picking up. The Philippines is pushing adventure tourism. Gone were the days that hotels, and resorts were the main attractions. Now, guests would like to go out from their hotels/resorts and look for activities outside,” Islands Group chief executive officer (CEO) Jonathan Jay P. Aldeguer said in an interview with The Freeman. 

The Islands Group’s sister company Island Souvenirs Inc. (ISI) has been partnering with Cebu Pacific for years now. Borromeo said this time, the two companies are joining hands to promote adventure and leisure tourism in Cebu, through this partnership, of which a client who may want to avail of IBC packages through CEB online booking can get attractive discounts or at least 20 percent lower than the regular rate.

IBC utilizes motorized boats for its island hopping activities. 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.

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.

The modern Islands 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. — Ehda M. Dagooc