DOT-7 eyes Indian travelers market

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT-7) Central Visayas is now intensifying its marketing promotions to attract more Indians to visit the region.

DOT-7 regional director Rowena Montecillo said that on the onset of the signing of the “Open Skies” policy, Cebu is encouraging airline players to consider opening direct flights from Cebu to India.

She said her office already started marketing Cebu and other destinations in the region especially to the high-end corporate travelers from Mumbai, India. “We continue to make exposures to the Indian market.”

Also, Montecillo said that aside from India, other emerging markets for Cebu and other provinces in the region are Europe, and the United Kingdom. She said it would be very helpful for Cebu if a direct from Germany and London will be opened.

Likewise, she said Middle East is also one of the hottest markets that should be taken advantaged by tourism marketers especially in Cebu.

The region’s top five foreign markets still are from Korea, America, Japan, China and Hong Kong.

Montecillo hopes that with the promising outlook for tourism in Cebu, and the rest of the region, it could help achieve the six million tourist arrivals target of the current administration in the next six years.

Historically, Cebu contributes about 20 percent of the country’s total tourist arrivals, Montecillo is confident that starting this year, Cebu could contribute more than 20 percent though.

“Region 7 will play a vital role in achieving the six million tourist arrival target of [DOT] secretary Alberto Lim,” she said.

In fact, the regional DOT office had already conducted its strategic workshop across the four provinces in the region to come up with each province’s own plans to boost tourism in their respective provinces.

She said tourism should be taken seriously among players, both government and private sector, as this has shown good potential to provide revenue for Local Government Units (LGUs), and well as offer good opportunity for people to start off tourism related businesses.

This year, Cebu specifically will host at least two international conferences, including the International MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition) this coming August, and the East Asia Tourism Forum (EATOF).

From January to September 2010, tourist arrivals to Central Visayas grew by six percent, despite the weakening of the global travelers’ interest due to the economic recession.

Montecillo hopes that the year 2010 was able to hit the 3.3 million tourist arrivals. She said formal announcement by secretary Lim will be done shortly, as soon as the figures are ready.

She said what is important for Cebu to take advantage of the rosier tourism outlook is to intensify its marketing campaign, as well as invite airlines to open up more direct flights specially from emerging markets, like India, Germany, London, and some Middle Eastern countries.