Islands Group opens Sinulog Square

CEBU, Philippines - As part of its thrust to provide complementary facilities to service the growing number of domestic and foreign tourists in Cebu, the Islands Group opened the first tourism complex in Cebu located at the center of the City’s heritage district in downtown called “Sinulog Square.”

The establishment which is situated in a 1,800 square-meter property along Magallanes Street, near the Magellan’s Cross landmark, will house several tourism related establishments, with the Islands Souvenirs as its anchor store.

“It would be a one-stop-shop for tourists that will provide what they need, souvenirs, Cebu delicacies, ticketing office, walking-tour guides, travel and tour information, and others,” said Islands Group president and chief executive officer (CEO) Jay Aldeguer.

The “Sinulog Square” was conceptualized out of the need to provide a facility in downtown, specifically within the what is informally called as the City’s “heritage district”, which starts from Parian, down the line of Museums located on the way to the Sto. Niño and Cathedral churches, Fort San Pedro, Magellan’s Cross, which are the must-see for Cebu whether for domestic or foreign visitors.

“This area should be provided with decent facility that will serve our visitors,” said Aldeguer saying that at this point, the company is still studying what type of other establishments that will be offered in the “Tourism Complex” aside from the basic services related to travel and tours.

Initially, aside from its Islands Souvenir anchor store, the “Sinulog Square” houses, a bazaar called “So-ok, So-ok”, cultural show, and Sinulog dance performances.

According to Aldeguer, the cultural show and Sinulog dance performances will be offered by the complex all year round, not only during the Sinulog Festival time.

“We thought of naming the complex as ‘Sinulog Square’, because the place is a heritage area, Sinulog celebration is more prominent and it is directly link with Cebu,” he said adding that celebration of Sinulog continues not only during every January, but its a year-round celebration.

At the second floor of the complex, the company will also build a 45-room hotel for its Islands Stay Hotel expansion, Aldeguer said.

He said there is so much potential in putting investments within Cebu’s tourism landmark, more so in the “Heritage District” of Cebu, which is known as a “must-see’ destination once in Cebu.

“There is so much potential for tourism related investment in this area. We are still studying on what more we could offer in the Sinulog Square, as we got a 20 year-lease of the property,” Aldeguer said.

Islands Group, one of the most active local group of companies of which investments are focused mainly on developing tourism-related services and products, including the Islands Banca Cruise, Islands Shuttle Service, Islands Stay Hotel chain, Talima Adventure Park, among others.

More than ever, Aldeguer believes that this is the time that Cebu should seriously maximize its potential for tourism by providing more choices, and services to tourists, specifically that some of the province’s economic drivers are being threatened such as exports, and recently the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

Tourism on the other hand, remains to be strong for Cebu, and also poised for a promising future. However, this could be given utmost and careful attention, by not being complacent saying, Cebu should offer something more, something new, and exciting for tourists, both first time travelers, as well are returning visitors.

Every year, he said Sinulog related sales is improving. Regardless of global economic uncertainty, Sinulog Festival still attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. In fact, balikbayan visitors arriving in Cebu this year, those that only registered to the “Balik Cebu” program have increased by close to 100 percent. (FREEMAN)