CCCI to spearhead Cebu's sports tourism development

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu is set to intensify its bid to push for “Sports Tourism” development in order to come up with enticing and coordinated activities to attract sports savvy tourists.

This move may be initiated by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) tourism committee, following Cebu’s gaining popularity in "sports tourism”.

CCCI committee chairperson Milagros Espina said that there is a need for Cebu to further develop its potential for this particular advantage, following the recommendation by Korean Tourism academician Jaehee Jung, head of the Department of Tourism in English at the Hallum College in Korea, that Cebu should take advantage of its Sports Tourism niche.

Among other events that will be well promoted by Cebu may include kayaking, Triathlon, Dance Sport, Espina said.

Although, this is still in the pipeline, Espina said the CCCI tourism committee may lead in this initiative and will convene stakeholders in this plan.

Part of Jung’s recommendation is the need for the East Asian countries to work together in order to boost tourism revenues, attracting the other markets outside of Asia.

Clustering among East Asian countries is also a very important channel to boost tourism in the region, although some countries within Asia may compete with each other in terms of attracting international travellers.

“We should go out of this barrier in Asia,” he said, further suggesting that countries in Asia, should not limit their promotional budgets attracting Asian travellers, as there are still huge untapped markets in other continents, like America, Europe, among others.

Cebu, Korea and Japan for instance, should implement a tourism package partnership, promoting diverse attraction and activities to tourists. Cebu can promote its attractive “Summer Sports” activity, while Korea can offer a day or two winter activities, and Japan particularly in Tottori Prefecture can also offer tourists its unique hot-spring destinations

Already, the tourism crown jewel of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City has an existing program to promote Sports Tourism. In fact, the city recently opened the 12,000-seater “Hoops Dome’ to complement with the program.

In a separate interview with Lapu-Lapu City councilor Harry Radaza, chairman for Sports Tourism, he said that the facility had already hosted international sport events including the International Tennis Tournament held in March this year, and one this month bringin in Chinese Tennis players to compete with the Philippines.

Next year, Radaza said Lapu-Lapu will focus on promoting water-sports such as wake boarding, jetski competition.

“We are talking with different organizations to push this plan,” Radaza said. (FREEMAN)