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Saturday, September 20, 2003
Cebu exhibit space ‘not enough’: industry group head
By Jessica B. Natad
CEBU needs a bigger exhibition center to accommodate the increasing interest of convention and exhibition organizers to hold events in the area.
“Cebu is a very good site. But there is a need to build a bigger exhibition center to accommodate larger exhibitions. All it has now is the Waterfront (convention center), and the space is not enough,” according to Association of Professional Congress/Event Organizers and Suppliers Philippines Inc. (Apceos) president Marissa Nallana.
She said even Manila, which has an 8,000-square-meter exhibit center—the World Trade Center—needs more exhibition centers with bigger areas.
Other countries, such as Thailand, have at least 10 exhibition centers with an 8,000-square-meter area, Nallana said.
She said the government should treat the country’s convention and exhibition industry seriously, as it could help the country attract foreign tourists and investors, as well as bring in money and job opportunities to the country.
“Other countries see the industry as the country’s marketing tool. Exhibitions bring in lots of money to the country. Regular exhibitions have multiplier effects on the country’s economy,” Nallana said.
Since 1986, exporters, especially furniture manufacturers, have been clamoring for and asking the government to construct a world-class international trade and exhibition center in Cebu.
The lack of government funding, however, has delayed the realization of the dream. Until today, Cebu exporters have not received a go signal from the government regarding the proposal.
Proposal
Apceos’ Nallana said the construction of world-class exhibition centers is one of the organization’s proposals to the government.
“If we don’t have this, the industry will die,” she said.
Apceos is an association based in Manila. It is composed of professional events and exhibition organizers and their partners in business including venue owners, booth contractors, freight forwarders and hotels, as well as institutions offering allied services, such as travel and tour agencies, airlines, and other transportation offices.
The organization aims to make the country a premier convention or exhibition destination in Southeast Asia, Nallana said.
Apceos is now working with the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau for the organization and professionalization of the congress and exhibition industry in Cebu.
(September 20, 2003 issue)
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