Cebu tourism players air concerns to DOT chief

CEBU, Philippines —  As part of her so-called “Listening Tours” to better know and address the challenges faced by the tourism sector, Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco recently met with the various tourism service providers and stakeholders at a hotel in Cebu.

The participants presented to Frasco their concerns, including the need for improved take-off areas for island-hopping and more tourist-friendly arrival and departure protocols.

During the same meeting, they also requested for tourist hubs or rest areas, trained tourist police, upgraded seaports, and intensive tourism promotions.

Among those who were present during the dialogue were officials and representatives from the Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA), Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI), Tour Operators Unite in Region 7 (TOURS7), Japanese Association of Travel Industries Cebu, Inc. (JATIC), Cebu Association of Tour Guides (CATG), Federation of Tourist Transport Operators in Cebu, Inc. (FTTOC), Cebu Alliance of Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS); and Network of Independent Travel Agencies (NITAS-Cebu).

During the meeting, Frasco likewise commended Cebu for its model tourism governance under the able leadership of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, her mother.

The newly-appointed DOT head, in a post on the department’s Facebook page, has assured the local tourism stakeholders present that their agency has started taking steps toward ensuring the upliftment of the visitor experience.

The meet-up was only an initial one as the tourism chief is slated to meet with other tourism stakeholders in Cebu at a later date.

To recall, Frasco had to relinquish her post as Liloan town mayor after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed her as DOT secretary.

The multi- awarded LGU chief was then the spokesperson of Vice President Sara Duterte. — JMD (FREEMAN)