Academe's lack of interest weakens Cebu's potential

CEBU, Philippines - The academe’s lack of interest in pushing Cebu as a premier destination for “Education Tourism” may weaken the province’s edge in attracting high-revenue and long-staying education tourists from all over the world.

“Everyone is in a wait and see attitude. Some educational institution owners are still hesitant to invest into this sector,” said Cebu Business Club (CBC) president Gordon Alan “Dondi” Joseph.

Cebu private sector players had been pushing Cebu as an “Education Tourism” site, specifically for the English as Second Language (ESL) niche, however, Joseph said there are still a lot of works to be done in order to make Cebu as preferred ESL destination.

 “This entails huge investments for educational institutions. At present they don’t see the potential yet, it seems that they are distracted by some other things,” Joseph said.

In December of 2010, CBC initiated the establishments of Cebu Hub for English Excellence (CHELE), which is an advocacy group that will help Cebu take off as an ESL destination.

However, Joseph said without the full support from the academe sector, this momentum will be put off temporarily, unless if there are willing investors who may put up world-class ESL facilities in Cebu.

Joseph said Cebu has huge potential to hit at least 30 thousand education-tourists a month, if Cebu players will be able to work together in developing the “education tourism” edge.

Record showed that at present, Cebu registered 10 thousand (or less) tourists, who take up ESL in Cebu a year. Most of them are Koreans. However, Joseph said if big facilities will be built and standard will be properly set up, attracting thousands of ESL students a month can be easily achieved.

Joseph projected, the education-tourism will be able to further turn-around the tourism figures for Cebu starting next year, if both private and government sectors will pull their hands together in focusing on this potential.

CHELE is a brainchild of Cebu Leads Foundation, of which members are influential businessmen in Cebu, whose passion to formalize and develop the province potential in attracting ESL students worldwide.

One of the flagship programs that will be started by CHELE was the successful International Conference on TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages) held in August this year.

For his part, CCCI president Samuel Chioson said CCCI will support any developments that will be initiated in order to raise the bar in putting Cebu as an international ESL hub.

On the other hand, in an earlier interview with Jaehee Jung, head for the Department of Tourism and English at the Hallum College in Korea, the Philippines is now threatened by other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, in terms of attracting ESL students from Korea.

Jung said if the Philippine government will not do something in regulating the increasing cost of ESL rates posted by schools and institutions, the country may lose its opportunity to attract foreign students, especially from Korea.

“Your government should control the rates for ESL services, otherwise you lose the opportunity to other countries,” Jung warned.

In the past, a two-month ESL program for instance only costs US$1,000, now the rate has gone up to US$2,000, same as the rate in Australia and New Zealand. (FREEMAN)