More flights require more infrastructures

Traffic in Metro Cebu is already bad on normal or regular days. As the Christmas holidays started, it simply worsened. Last Friday and Saturday were typical examples of where we are right now traffic-wise. Bumper to bumper.

Last Friday, motorists were stuck for two hours at Cansaga Bridge at the North Coastal Highway going to Consolacion. The same was true in the North Nautical Highway from Basak, Mandaue City to Consolacion. What made it so frustrating was, this happened at 11:00 in the evening. Likewise, last Saturday, it was nothing better. Undeniably, our traffic woes are long and flatly permanent.

If we care to analyze, we can surmise that our roads are so inadequate to accommodate the current number of vehicles. Moreover, our public transport system is so inappropriate.

Also, as announced just last week by Department of Tourism (DOT-7) regional director Shalimar Tamano, “China Southern Airlines is set to launch a direct flight between Cebu and Guangzhou by January 2019.”  Though this development is good tourism-wise, this will further worsen our traffic condition.

Remember, this is in addition to the many daily flights already mounted by several Chinese-owned airlines between Cebu and the key cities in mainland China. To think that non-China-based airlines, like Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia, have also mounted flights and, probably, will have more in the future in this route, Mactan-Cebu’s International Airport (MCIA) will soon become one of the busiest airports in the country.

Moreover, knowing fully well that GMR-Megawide invested several billions in the new terminal, it will surely market the facility to more airlines. Therefore, that should mean more destinations and more diverse nationalities coming into the country as tourists. Again, for tourism, this is good. The question is, with this expected volume are we ready to comfortably accommodate them and make sure they enjoy?

Lest we forget, there are three significant areas that we should look into for the tourism industry to flourish. These are (1) product development, (2) adequate infrastructure and (3) promotion and marketing. Apparently, therefore, just like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, the forerunners of tourism among ASEAN countries, we must develop places of interest like theme parks and amusement parks.  Or, probably, organize trades expos also as part of product development.

However, unlike these neighboring countries, our infrastructure is both inadequate and very poor. Again, as has been obvious and felt by everyone and more often discussed, our road traffic is already horrible. Now, with more tourists coming in, expect more tourist buses using our already congested roads. Now, will they be happy?  Of course, not.  With the situation we have right now, they will be spending more time on the road than in places they would like to visit.  In all respects, that is not tourism.

By the way, that is, in fact, thinking way ahead. Remember, before, using our roads, they shall go through our airports. With more flights coming in and out, they might find their planes hovering around for long minutes before they could land or uneasily stay in their cabins for even an hour waiting for their schedule to take off because of air traffic congestion. Remember, MCIA has only one runway. Therefore, the possibility that we shall have the same air traffic condition in Manila is imminent.

Promotion-wise, the tour and travel operators, businessmen as they are, will certainly package tours if the products are saleable and comfortably reachable. Thus, with all certainty, the promotional aspects shall be efficiently undertaken throughout the year.

Indeed, we truly understand the necessity of promoting our tourism potentials both here and abroad. The need to inform potential market of our capabilities is unquestionable. In doing so however, we must not forget that like any business, the key to any success is continued patronage. This can only be achieved once we can develop a strong customer base that will not only give us repeat businesses but shall tell the world of our unparalleled capabilities.