Cebu gears up for more tourist arrivals for 2006!

With the summer vacation over and plans to travel abroad now shifting from family travel to business travel, Cebu should now be gearing up for tourist arrivals from the United States and Europe whose summer months starts in June and ends in August. By now, bookings to our beach resorts and hotels should be full especially because the Philippines has now been taken off the travel advisories of these two major countries. The city and the province of Cebu are doing all they can to promote Cebu and prepare it for the Asean Summit this coming December. Each one of us is expected to do our part to work towards this end. One good thing leads to another...so why not let it start with you and me? If we want our visitors to see a CLEAN & GREEN CEBU, lets plant a tree or just make sure that we take care of our trees and all the plants around us. Let us encourage everyone to dispose of their trash or garbage properly. The example we give may influence the next door neighbor to do the same. If we want our visitors to feel welcomed, then we should have a ready smile to greet them and make those handshakes firm to show them our warm hospitality. These are just little things but when put together, it could make or unmake our city. Let us start the culture of tourism now.

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I just returned from our Ave Maria Pilgrimage to Europe, and I often ask myself why cities like Rome, Florence, Pisa, Assisi, Barcelona, Montserrat, Lourdes, Fatima and Paris attract more tourists than our Cebu? Is it the ruins of ancient past or the religious significance of the place? Is it the arts and the architecture or the richness of their culture that makes the tourist visit them? In answer to the first question, we have our Fort San Pedro and our famous Basilica del Sto. Niño. The answer to my second question leaves much to be desired. We are in great need of a theater & a museum that will showcase our Filipino culture and heritage. We have an abundance of Filipino singers and dancers and painters who have never failed to draw the admiration of foreign audiences when they perform abroad. Why do we not have a place for these artists to perform daily and showcase their talents to the delight our foreign tourists? I would venture to say that tourist were drawn to these major cities because of the religious significance of the place. For what is Rome without the Vatican Museum and St. Peters' Basilica? What is Florence without the Basilica dedicated to our Lady at Piazza del Fiore; Pisa without the Church and its leaning bell tower; Assisi without the Basilica of Saint Francis and St. Clare; Barcelona without the Sagrada Familia, Montserrat without the Church of Our Lady of Montserrat, Lourdes without the Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fatima without the Basilica of our Lady of Fatima, and Paris without the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal at Rue du Bac, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart which stands majestically on the highest hill in Paris? Our city government and our Church hierarchy, in cooperation with the Dept. of Tourism should look into this matter and work together with the people to enhance the present structure of the Basilica del Sto. Niño that will strengthen further the devotion to the Child Jesus and, in the same token, improve our economy as we attract more religious pilgrimages to our country and our city. We must highlight, enhance, maintain and promote our Sto. Niño Basilica and all our Cebu churches to meet the spiritual needs of our people and our visitors. Let us make their visit to Cebu and our Basilica del Sto. Niño an unforgetable experience, not just during the Sinulog but the whole year through. Can we do it? Yes, we can, but we need to get our acts together to do it! Our city is so rich in history and culture so that it is overflowing! We only need to accentuate, enhance, preserve, maintain and promote!

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The Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry Business Month is only a week away and we are inviting all potential investors to come to WATERFRONT HOTEL - Lahug on June 21-23. The entrance for the Tourism Congress on June 22 at the Teatro Filipino is FREE! The theme "INVEST CEBU" is meant to draw foreign investors to come and see for themselves what Cebu has to offer in terms of potential investment opportunities. CBM will focus on three major industries, namely: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TOURISM AND SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES. If you are interested to promote your property to foreign investors, now is the time to get an exhibitor's booth.

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The Footsteps of Jesus Holyland Pilgrimage, led by Beth Reyes of Land & Sky Travel and Terry Bagano of Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc., arrived Cebu last May 21 followed by the Best of Europe-Ave Maria Pilgrimage, led by yours truly, on May 25, 2006. A reunion for these two groups has been set on June 12 at the Bernardo Navarro residence for the FOJ group, and at the Grand Majestic Restaurant on June 14 for the Ave Maria Group. No doubt, everyone is looking forward to share their experiences and renew acquaintaces with new found friends. For your comments, you can call me at Delmar Travel & Tours, Inc. Tel. # 2536561 & 2536571 and/or my email address: [email protected]