DOT picks Cebu as model for sustainable tourism development

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is making Cebu as a model for sustainable tourism development for its implementation and collaboration program that aims to build capacity and capability of the industry in the Philippines.

The collaborative program will strengthen Cebu’s competitiveness as a sustainable tourism model in the following areas: a) Business Tourism in Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (BTMICE), and b) Expanding Business Tourism by integrating leisure products such as Cultural and Heritage Tourism and Eco-tourism.

Republic Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic have offered to conduct a program for qualified participants in Singapore and work closely with DOT and Cebu Province to achieve the learning outcomes of the training workshop.

The Cebu Provincial Board has authorized Governor Hilario Davide III to execute and sign a memorandum of understanding with DOT Secretary Wanda Teo, Republic Polytechnic Chief Executive Officer Yeo Li Pheow and Temasek Polytechnic CEO Peter Lam for the said program.

The Cebu provincial government recognizes the need to develop a strategic direction for sustainable tourism and hospitality development to make Cebu’s tourism industry globally competitive.

“In view thereof, the Cebu Provincial Government is amenable to a collaborative programme which aims to build capacity and capability of the tourism and hospitality sector in Cebu, aligned to the strategic direction of the DOT to enhance access and expand products and services, using Cebu Province as a model for sustainable development,” read the PB Resolution authored by Board Members Jerome Christian Librando and Horacio Franco III.

DOT has shared its strategic plan to enhance access and expand its products to address the demand and supply in the tourism industry.

Improvement to the infrastructure and transportation to enable access to 20 tourism clusters and 49 tourism areas were identified in the northern, central, and southern Philippines.

Strategic plans are also in place to improve the business environment (via flagship Tourism Enterprise Zones) and expand product offerings to promote Cultural, Heritage, Nature based, and Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions/Events (MICE) tourism.

Cebu Province, as a connecting hub to Central Philippines, is a gateway to global opportunities and challenges.

Based on the proposed enhancement of access and expansion of products by DOT between 2015 and 2022, Cebu will experience the highest growth with tourist terminal capacity and international tourist traffic projected to increase from 4.5 million to 15 million (3 times) and 1.70 million to 8.80 million (5 times), respectively.

Singapore’s tourism experience in MICE, Cultural and Heritage, and Eco-tourism can be a source for mutual sharing on best practices and emerging trends. (FREEMAN)