Joint ASEAN tour packages mulled

CEBU, Philippines - Instead of competing with each other in terms of attracting the world tourists market, ASEAN should come up with joint tour packages in promoting each country’s best attractions.

Tourism prime mover Bobby Lim Joseph will tackle this during the opening of the International Conference of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) today at the Radison Blu Hotel Cebu.

Joseph will be talking on seizing the wealth of tourism as a region, while the Philippines is on its way to maximize the tourism potential of the country.

Joseph said instead of competing in luring tourists, ASEAN member countries should work together in complementing each other, and a good package promoting the ASEAN as a preferred tourism destination could be an advantage for the region.

“We should strengthen ties with the ASEAN—Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and others. One destination package is more exciting and attractive for the international travelers,” said Joseph.

Joseph, who is also the chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agents (Naitas) said in an interview yesterday that even before the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism integration by 2015, Philippines led by the private sector should take the lead in initiating this move.

Meanwhile, Joseph will also promote Cebu and the Philippines to the businessmen participating in the two-day conference from 27 countries in Asia-Pacific that the Philippines is geared on advancing its tourism niche, while the government through the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been so far effective in its programs and promotions.

Cebu for instance is working on to develop new attractions and enhance existing ones now that the government is beefing up its budget to support this big revenue-generating sector.

Joseph will emphasize in his talk today, the seriousness of the private sector stakeholders in pushing the tourism asset of the Philippines, and that they will see more developments and attractions in the country in the next few years.

Thus, investments in tourism is also profitable in this side of the region. In Cebu, which is positioned as one of the sophisticated, high-end destinations in the country, big-ticket investments for posh hotel and resort accommodations, and other tourism related facilities are still deemed profitable.

According to Joseph, Cebu is known for its night-life, shopping, food culture, and internationally acclaimed events, such as Sinulog, among others. These attractions shall be enhanced and even stakeholders are up to develop more events and promote new destinations, and activities.

Culture of tourism in Cebu, and other tourism hot-spots in the country should also be perfected. Cebu once again, will lead of this advocacy, said Joseph.

New strategy, and master-plan will be started by the tourism stakeholders here, together with the local government units (LGUs) to create a long term or 20-year tourism plan, that will be doable.

Joseph reiterated his confidence of Cebu’s potential in tourism sector, saying if Cebuanos will be made “ambassador of tourism,” and that ingenuity and creativity of Cebuanos shall be effectively tapped, there is no doubt Cebu will lead in tourism growth not only in the Philippines, but the entire region.

Enhancing the shopping component of Cebu, aside from putting in signature brand shops, is another advantage, incorporating the Cebu-made fashion jewelry to make a duty-free jewelry shop in Cebu, where fashion jewelry products will be mixed with fine jewelry materials.

Promoting local designers in the world-known creations of fine jewelry, hand bags, shoes, clothes, among others could attract international tourists, as well as boost the tourists spending receipts, Joseph said.

Business decision makers from 27 countries in Asia Pacific are here in Cebu for the 27th CACCI, which opens at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu.

The two-day event is hosted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). (FREEMAN)