Cebu needs to strengthen culture of tourism

CEBU, Philippines - While Cebu is gaining attention as a tourist destination in the Philippines from both domestic and foreign travelers, it has to trail blaze in implementing developments to accommodate the growth and expectations of the tourists.

Tourism advocate Bobby Lim Joseph said that Cebu’s culture of tourism still has to be strengthened, making residents be part of Cebu’s tourism promotion, saying “to make every Cebuano an ambassador for tourism.”

Joseph, who put his strong confidence on Cebu’s success to seize the multi-million-peso tourism industry, said that aside from strengthening the culture of tourism in Cebu, stakeholders, including the local government units (LGUs) should strive harder in developing more attractions to sustain Cebu’s “magnet” as a vacation haven.

What Cebu is offering now, he said, is not enough, considering that tourists from all over the world, including the domestic travelers, expect so much from Cebu.

Bringing the “culture of tourism” program to the barangay level is very important, Joseph said. Although Cebu has improved a bit in terms of the development of tourism culture, the orientation should go farther to the grassroots.

This is why Cebu needs a long term tourism roadmap to identify the priorities and concerns of the industry. No doubt, he said, Cebu has arrived as a tourist destination; however, if it would to be complacent, its potential will be corrupted due to lack of planning and development programs.

When culture of tourism is already established, Joseph said Cebu should also work in expanding the choices of its night-life and shopping options and strengthen the promotion of food culture while creating big events aside from Sinulog.

Likewise, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) chairperson for tourism committee Milagros Espina emphasized Cebu’s need to strengthen the tourism support services, such as infrastructure.

 â€œWe should increase budget for services and infrastructure and human resources by cultivating further the culture of tourism in Cebu,” Espina said.

On the other hand, Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Rowena Montecillo said that more than beaches, cultural heritage, shopping and night life, Cebu is now moving to intensify its niche in adventure tourism and other outdoor and nature activities.

Montecillo announced that the tourism office is now adding up more activities to offer to the growing tourists and respond to the demand for outdoor events.

According to Montecillo, there are a lot of municipalities in Cebu that offer adventure tourism related activities like trekking, biking and zipline, among others.

In United States alone, adventure tourism is a US$450 million industry. The Philippines, which has ample of sites that can be developed for this type of activity can generate good tourism revenue, while providing local residents, especially rural people, livelihood.

While Bohol is known for its attractive eco-tourism, agri-tourism and adventure tourism advantage, Cebu is seen to also leverage on these as there are growing investors who want to build adventure tourism facilities within the province. /JMD (FREEMAN)