Running activities help increase tourist arrivals

CEBU, Philippines - The increasing interest on running has not only created positive effects toward the enthusiasts but it likewise paved way for a new niche in the business arena.

As more and more people now support marathons and fun runs, it also meant more tourist arrivals in Cebu, according to the Cebu Travel and Tours Association.

CTTA president Desiree Chan said they are pleased with how the “running fever” has tremendously grown in Cebu, which has also encouraged more foreign visitors to participate in fun runs and marathons now held almost every week.

Chan said that Cebu is becoming known in different provinces and countries as one of the marathon destinations and this is definitely a big help for the travel and tours industry.

She said that sports tourism is one of the new things that they are promoting as the interest for health and wellness is increasing over the months.

Proof of this is the huge turnout in the recent Cebu City marathon where over four thousand runners took part in the activity including foreign delegations where two Kenyan nationals won first and second place for the men’s 42K division. The two are here mainly to join marathon competitions.

Aside from them, runners from other parts of the country are also coming in and out of the city to join numerous marathons.

This is a big factor in the possible growth of the industry for this year, said Chan who shared that they were quite down in 2009 due to the economic crisis.

CTTA presently has 38 members which are companies dealing with travel and tours services.

“We were really affected with the crisis in 2009. But we are optimistic for this year.”

She said that it is still early to tell whether the numbers are picking up since it is still the start of the year but then they are grateful that sports tourism is becoming a fad since they are assured that a lot would be interested in this.

Chan said though that the month of January is always better than any other month since the celebration of Sinulog is always a highlight and a lot of tourists come in and book flights as early as the last quarter of the previous year.

“Mostly are balikbayans,” said Chan referring to the bigger bulk of arrivals for the Sinulog season that are mostly from the United States .

Sinulog, which is usually celebrated with a week-long of activities, attracts even more arrivals compared to the summer season which is around three months.

She said that they have a lot of clients for the summer season but it is mostly the locals or the foreigners who are presently here are would want to go to other countries where it is much cooler in temperature.— AJ de la Torre