Economist: Cebu lacks infra to maximize tourism potential

CEBU, Philippines - While Cebu is undoubtedly attractive as a tourism destination for both local and international travelers, it has to immediately address the lack of proper infrastructure to maximize its tourism potential.

This is a call for the government and the private sector prime movers in Cebu by the country’s known economist Jonas Ravelas, in a recent economic briefing organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce-Cebu.

Ravelas, who is also the first vice-president and chief market strategist of Banco de Oro Universal Bank, said a proper infrastructure roadmap should be implemented immediately specifically in Cebu, as tourism trade here is on the upswing.

If Cebu will miss this opportunity of catching up with its growth, it may lose its tourism potential to other destinations in the Philippines, or in Asia.

According to Ravelas, with the present infrastructure set-up of Cebu, it cannot even accommodate one-million tourist arrivals at the same time. He mentioned the need to expand the airport facilities, and services.

“I don’t think we have the right infrastructure,” said Ravelas referring to the country’s infrastructure as a whole.

Nationally, he said tourism direction is even loose, saying the Philippines, despite its huge potential to capture the multi-billion-dollar market in tourism sector, “we have no proper tourism direction.”

Cebu, because of its active private and government stakeholders, should initiate the work to lead in tourism development, specifically in fixing the infrastructure side.

Earlier, Honorary Russian Consul in Cebu Armi Lopez Garcia said that Cebu should prepare for the influx of Russian tourists, as the province is gaining popularity among wealthy Russian travelers, however, Cebu should trail blaze in fixing some problems that may discouraged the interest of Russian visitors.

Aside from addressing the safety, cleanliness and infrastructure,Garcia emphasized the need for Cebu LGUs to lead the implementation of “empowering” the community as “guardians of tourism” through constant education and awareness.

Likewise, United Kingdom (UK) consul in Cebu Moya Jackson magnified Cebu’s deteriorating “safety” to tourists system, saying one of the most important come-ons especially to for a destination is to address the security of tourists in a destination.

“Safety—is impossible in Cebu. Enough has been said about Cebu—the good things,” Jackson said adding that if safety issue can’t be addressed immediately, this will eventually discouraged tourists to come to Cebu.

However, although these diplomats pointed their fingers to the “concerned agencies” in the government to fix these pitfalls of Cebu tourism, both Jackson and Garcia agreed that Cebu is still the safest place in the Philippines.

While Cebu’s wet-markets especially the legendary “Carbon Market” is one of the most desired places tourists’ like to go, to explore the “culture” of Cebu, Jackson said safety and cleanliness in Carbon Market should be implemented. (FREEMAN)