MANILA, Philippines - Once promoted as ?An island in the Pacific,? Cebu has gone its own way in promoting tourism. Not a few Manilans felt irked that it seemingly has dissociated itself from the nation?s capital.
The Cebuanos, undaunted and fired by a strong pride of place and a resolve to showcase the multifaceted attractions of the province, went to work. Now they are capturing a good slice of the visitors? market.
The thing going for this Eastern Visayas province is that the people of Cebu, those in government, private sector and the academe, even the social elite, are one.
Proof is the recent success of the Tourism Forum under the auspices of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cebu Business Month (CBM), dovetailed with the Philippine Tourism Fair.
A sensible (and definitely peso-saving endeavor) is a program that allows the organizers to bring in hundreds of investors/tour operators to Cebu rather than send Philippine delegations out. This way the potential suppliers of ?bodies? are able to see and experience that which will make them direct their clients to Cebu. Brilliant.
So it was in late June, a highly successful showcase of Cebu hospitality and attractions took place at the Cebu International Convention Center, with the very active Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia keynoting and reiterating a challenge, hurled at her earlier. The challenge, this time is ?Excel! Cebu!??the convention?s tourism slogan.
Full force
This caps a long program to propel Cebu via its festivals, heritage, leisure facilities, entertainment and many more.
It was a gargantuan endeavor, ably organized by CBM chair Mila Espina, harnessing the cooperation of hundreds of people.
The cityfolk came in full force to welcome delegations from neighboring regional centers, Europe and the United States. Not few of them experienced the innovative Suroy Suroy sa Sugbu, organized visits to small towns, focusing on entrepreneurial skills of the folk and breathe fresh air.
When the two-day forum began, foreign guests knew what to expect, but still surprised they were when the business cum culture and entertainment unfolded.
Music, dance and the Cebuano graciousness welcomed guests at the Convention lobby.
Students in colorful costumes performed, reminiscent of the ?Pit Señor? grandeur that happens every year on the streets of city. Drums were struck, dances continued to herald the start of the forum. A budding Manila singer, the baritone Lorenzo, charmed the assembly.
The 2008 Tourism Congress succeeded in making the keyplayers realize that the people can make or unmake the future of the tourism industry and human infrastructures are indispensable in effective management and service.
The statistics tell the story. Foreign arrivals from January to December 2007 rose to 85.90 percent, translating to nearly 600,000 bodies. Domestic and foreign arrivals for the same period topped 76.82 percent with a volume of 1,488,908 visitors.
Clearly, Cebu is on the right track.
