After Boracay closes: Cebu ready for tourists

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu's hospitality industry is ready to meet the expected demands in anticipation of tourists flocking to Cebu once Boracay Island closes on April 26.

Carlo Suarez, president of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), believes Cebu is ready as far as the demand for accommodation is concerned.

"The hospitality industry in Cebu understands the growing demand especially with the closure of Boracay. Hotel and resorts in Cebu are gearing up for the arrival of these local and foreign guests," Suarez told The FREEMAN.

"HRRAC members are looking forward to the influx of tourists from Boracay," he added.

Suarez, general manager of Cebu Grand Hotel, noted that Cebu hotels and resorts are enjoying an average occupancy of up to 80 percent.

"Accommodations in the city would not be a challenge as Cebu has lots of room available in the different hotels and resorts. This increase in number would be like the increased number of guests during Sinulog, only that it would last for a longer period of time," the HRRAC official said.

He believes Cebu as a tourist destination is growing every year and that the industry expects more hotels and resorts expanding or new ones opening in the future.

While he has no official figures, Suarez said most hotels opening this year are locally-owned.

"As for the additional rooms this year, there are lots of new players coming to town," he said.

Both international and local hotel brands have invested in developing Cebu as a premier tourist destination providing great service and world-class accommodations, Suarez said.

Earlier, Department of Tourism-7 Director Shalimar Tamano said Cebu and Bohol, which are among the alternative destinations being promoted by the agency to local and international visitors, are likely to experience a surge in tourist arrivals amid Boracay’s impending shutdown.

He said the opening of a second terminal at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) this June and the Panglao International Airport in Bohol this November is expected to further boost influx of tourists.

“These two airports will be ready then. And we have the products to offer to the tourists,” Tamano said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved the total closure of Boracay for six months, starting April 26, to pave the way for the island’s restoration.

Tamano believes Cebu and Bohol have done so much to offer to tourists, adding that now is the opportune time for both islands to showcase their tourist spots.

The DOT-7 chief also said these provinces remain to be attractive destinations because of continuous campaign to promote them locally and abroad. But efforts to lure in more tourists will not come easy as there some challenges that need to be addressed, two of which are the issue on security and the availability of rooms to cater to the increased demand, he noted.

No limit

Meanwhile, Lt. General Paul Atal of the Central Command said there is no need to limit the number of tourists that might come here.

“There’s no need because we are anticipating that with the planned closure of Boracay, it’s expected na magshi-shift po yan sa other attractions sa Cebu, Bohol,” he said.

The capability demonstration conducted at the shores of Oslob town last weekend showed the AFP’s readiness to secure the island.

Atal said other demonstrations will be carried out in other parts of the region.

“All threats to national security are being addressed by the Central Command. As the AFP commander in Visayas, we are doing everything to make the whole Visayas a safer place to stay,” he said.

Atal asked the public to continuously coordinate with law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order in the region.

This was also emphasized by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña who said reports he got from random text messages helped Cebu City clinch the eighth place as one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia.

Osmeña said the government needs the help of the people in sustaining the image of the city as a safe place.

“The cooperation, the texts I get has very valuable information which the police cannot get because people report to me what’s happening in the barangay. I forward this to the police. People don’t like to report to police that’s why I get so many texts,” he said.

Sandbar

Down south, today marks the start of the sandbar and diving site closure in Oslob town, which will last for a week.

Oslob Mayor Jun Tumulak told The Freeman that around 200 individuals consisting of municipal government employees, members of the navy, and volunteers will be cleaning the closed areas for three days or more, depending on the severity of the waste problem.

Of the total number, over 80 members of the navy will dive and pick up the trash, which settled down below the surface of the sea. People who would want to volunteer and join the clean-up are directed to register at the Municipal Tourism Office.

While the closure and clean-up drive activities are ongoing, the local government unit will hold multiple meetings and consultations with the stakeholders to come up with courses of action to protect the tourist destination sites in the town.

Yesterday, Tumulak said the municipal government of Oslob is eyeing at making a legislative move to close the Sumilon sandbar regularly for one week every three months.

“Ang tumong namo sa closure is dili lang ang paglimpyo but para pud makaginhawa ang nature,” Tumulak said.

A study showed that the carrying capacity of the Sumilon sandbar is only 522 persons a day but the average daily traffic is twice to four times of the carrying capacity. With this in mind, Tumulak said another possible action is making a tourism zoning ordinance that can designate specific areas as a gateway to the sandbar.

The same ordinance was recommended by the regional director of the Department of Tourism - VII (DOT-7) in a meeting with the Provincial Tourism Council. A tourism zoning ordinance designates which area will be used for a specific activity.

DOT-7 Regional Director Shalimar Hofer Tamano said that this would help the LGUs monitor the activities and at the same time ensure the safety of the guests especially when engaged in water activities.

In an earlier interview, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale expressed that Capitol will study how they can incorporate the recommendation into the existing Provincial Tourism Code and re-echo it to the local government units. (FREEMAN)