Foreign tourists start returning  to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  After about two years since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Cebu, foreign tourists are starting to arrive and visit the province’s tourist destinations.

In the town of Oslob, south Cebu, foreigners and local tourists are already back for the whale shark watching in Barangay Tan-awan, as well as for other tourism sites such as Sumilon island and waterfalls.

Yesterday was the first time foreigners were seen at the whale shark watching site, according to residents and tour operators.

Zenaida Nepomoseno, owner of Sharky Hostel, said that it was their first time to receive foreign guests yesterday.

“First time to ganina (gahapon), mga puti, mga taga-Europe tingali na sila. And then kadtong Koreans, daghan to ila, grupo man, sobra sila 20. Nag-whale shark watching sila. Kadto mga puti, nag-whale shark watching pud,” she said.

Nepomoseno said they are expecting more tourists to visit in the coming months. In fact, they already have bookings for March and April, she said.

“May booking mi para sa March ug April. Ginagmay pa. Mga duha, upat. Di pareha sa una nga tag-napulo nga ang mga dormitory-type namo, mapuno dayon,” she said.

It can be recalled that the Philippines opened its borders to foreign tourists starting February 10, 2022.

Evangeline Lugas, a corn vendor in Barangay Tan-awan, said they are happy that foreign tourists are slowly returning to visit their place.

There have been visitors in the recent past, but mostly local tourists, she said.

The pandemic has forced the government to shut down many tourism sites across the province, including the Oslob whale shark watching site.

Nepomoseno and Lugas are both inviting tourists to come and visit their place.

“Please come and enjoy whale watching right now because we need you all. We are open already. Help us with our tourism to bloom again,” Nepomoseno said.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said the international market is the backbone of tourism in the province. This is the reason why the Capitol has allowed entry of non-vaccinated foreigners into the province under certain conditions effective March 1, 2022.

“Ang nagdala gyud og kinabag-an nga negosyo sa atong turismo diri mao ang gikan sa Korea, Japan, ug China,” Garcia said at the stakeholders meeting with the Provincial Tourism Task Force in the town of Moalboal yesterday.

Garcia had said that tourism is a major economic driver of the province. – JMD (FREEMAN