Presentation Outline
Outline of Resolution Presentation
PART I: SYNTHESIS OF PROCEEDINGS
1.1 Keynote (Garcia)
- the problem with Cebu tourism is we don’t know what market we would like to service and what we have now is just a default strategy for tourism
- we need to focus on regional development
1.2 Talk 1 (Escandor)
– Emphasized that one of Cebu’s contribution to the national economy is to strengthen the tourism industry
- now no. 1 in tourist arrivals outside of NCR
1.3 Panel Discussion AM
- Need to ask LGUs and congressmen to make representations to the NSO disaggregate the input-output table at the regional/provincial level
- Cebu has no competitiveness in agriculture
- Competitive advantage in industrial services
- No. 1 in registered voters but no. 2 in internal revenue allotment
- Areas for improvement: Cebu lags behind other provinces in social services, health and education spending as well as in employment rate
- Industries endangered because of migration of skilled workers
- Majority of Cebu Chamber of Commerce members are from the service sector
- The Chamber is advocating for Cebu to become an economic zone
1.4 Talk 2 (Durano)
- Cebu 2012 vision is to reach 1 M tourist arrivals by 2012
- This is to be achieved through demand activation by improving environment and perception, type and quality of services, people capability and services, and accessibility and infrastructures
- Need to improve capacity of Cebu’s airport terminal
1.5 Talk 3 (Bujang)
- In Sabah, they apply the principle of less is more, focus on key factors in Sabah tourism like cleanliness, politeness, efficiency, infrastructure, packaging and presentation
- Sabah Tourism Board inspired the creation of the Malaysian Tourism Board
1.6 Talk 4 (Domingo)
- No other industry can provide the widespread development opportunities in the country
- Cebu on the verge of major tourism takeoff
- There is a current perception that Cebu is a safe place and is probably why more tourists come to Cebu
- Cebu has got it and we just have to make sure that we follow international standards so we don’t lose the opportunities
1.7 Panel Discussion PM
- new battle of Mactan: are we going to lose this paradise through poor planning, environmental atrophy etc.
- Will Mactan ever get a measly fraction of the trillions to be spent on tourism infrastructure?
- Corruption and spending on useful projects are a problem
- Prices of tourism goods and services are important considerations for certain groups of tourists like Americans, Australians and etc.
- Consider tie-ups with tourism providers in complementary tourist destinations
- Safety is found to be an important determinant of tourist arrivals in the Philippines
- Dearth of rooms in Bohol evidenced by high room prices
- Zoning laws are important (esp. in relation to the problem of Mactan), so is cleanliness
- Stop squatter problem in Mactan=>city government has enough power to do this=>then relocate
- If Mactan is so important as a tourist destination, why can’t we widen the roads, we can have industry take tax credits for undertaking the road expansion
PART II: POLICY ADVOCACIES
1.0 Infrastructure
1.1 The government needs to be more transparent and quick to give updates on the progress of the specific infrastructure projects earmarked for the Central Philippines Tourism Mega-Region
1.2 That 10 km. of road from Cordova to Punta Engano be improved to provide for a four-lane road with proper sidewalks
1.3 That the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority and other concerned authorities give incentives to airline companies in regard to their rentals at the airport so that it will become more cost effective for them to mount more flights
1.4 That seaport facilities, like the terminal in Dumaguete be improved, so that they will be more suitable for tourists
2.0 Environment
2.1 That the “no permit, no building†policy be strictly enforced in Mactan to stop squatters from coming in or expanding
2.2 That a garbage clean-up be done in places that tourist will pass through
2.3 That markets, like Carbon Market, frequented by tourists, be kept clean and safe for tourists at all times
3.0 Facilities
3.1 That more rooms be put up in Cebu to meet the demand for accommodations by the type of tourists that Cebu wants to attract
3.2 That clean restrooms be made available province-wide to cater to tourists
3.3 That restaurants be put up in the countryside, like Carcar and Barili, so that tourists who wish to visit the Cebu towns, can have a place to go for their meals
3.4 That the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 lift the moratorium on the licensing of new tourist vans
3.5 That government provide tax or other perks to tour operators and businessmen wanting to bring in the bigger and pricier transport vans, like coasters and buses
3.6 That the LTFRB 7 and other relevant authorities better monitor taxi drivers, especially those bringing tourists from the airport to their hotels, to prevent overcharging and to ensure the security of tourists
3.7 That shipping operators schedule regular trips, like to Dumaguete, so that tour operators will be able to sell these
4.0 Manpower
4.1 That schools train tour guides to speak the foreign languages used by tourists
4.2 That schools find out and meet the tourism industry’s needs, in particular, its needs for graduates to speak better English and have a better personality
4.3 That the TESDA 7, CHED, academe and tourism industry players identify industry partners where schools can send their students for training, so that their training is more in line with industry needs
4.4 That the TESDA 7, together with the proper government authorities, teach taxi drivers to answer basic questions that tourists might ask, as well as to say a few phrases like “Thank You†in the foreign languages spoken by tourists
5.0 Tourism Activities
5.1 That tours to Cebu’s non-urban areas, like the mountains, fishing villages and other natural attractions, also feature the locals, their customs and their crafts
5.2 That tour operators offer alternative activities for tourists that would showcase local skills and give opportunities for microbusiness at the same time
6.0 Enablers
6.1 That government speed up efforts to cut short the time needed to register businesses so that entrepreneurs can take advantage of the tourism-related opportunities available
6.2 That the Bureau of Immigration improve the experience of visitors wanting a visa extension by removing red tape and the practice of charging illegal facilitation fees to speed up processing time; and by moving the processing of visas for permanent residents and investors to Cebu, from Manila
6.3 That a province-wide tourism cluster be formed to have a more unified approach to addressing the problems plaguing the Cebu tourism industry