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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Foreign tourist arrivals in Cebu up 21%: DOT
CEBU province saw a 21 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in the first 11 months of 2004.
According to the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7, some 321,118 foreigners descended on the island-province from January to November, up from 265,928 in the same period in 2003.
The number of domestic travelers also grew 12.65 percent to 609,409 in the first 11 months of 2004 from 540,983 in the same period a year ago.
Korea was the top source of foreign tourists. The 94,213 Koreans who came to Cebu accounted for 29.34 percent of total foreign tourist arrivals.
Japan followed closely, making up 29.05 percent of the foreign tourist market.
The other top sources of foreign tourists were the United States, accounting for 10 percent of foreign tourist arrivals, Hong Kong 4.5 percent, Taiwan 2.5 percent and Germany 2.08 percent.
Mainland China, which Cebu is aggressively targeting, made up only 1.76 percent of total foreign tourist arrivals.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano has said the DOT will intensify its marketing campaign in China by tying up with state-controlled tour wholesalers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
For this month, helping to boost tourism were the Sinulog festivities, which were capped by a grand parade last Sunday.
A gathering in Cebu this week of Filipinos based overseas also promises to be “the biggest and most celebrated convention in the country this year.”
Patrick Gregorio, secretary general of the 3rd Global Filipino Networking Convention happening on Jan. 20-22, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, said the event helps the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVCB) promote Cebu as the premier conventions hub in the country.
The event (www.thirdglobalcebu.com) is a brainchild of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations. The co-convenor is the CVCB, whose founding chairman is Gregorio.
The reception dinner for the three-day event will be hosted by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia at the Provincial Capitol.
The convention proper takes place on the second and third days with sessions on education, tourism, medical health, leadership and business, among others.
Bigwigs
Also gracing the affair are Mayor Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City, Mayor Thadeo Ouano of Mandaue City, Mayor Arturo Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, DOT Secretary Ace Durano, DOT 7 Regional Director Dawnie Roa, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, senators Manuel Villar and Richard Gordon, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
Among the speakers are Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chief executive officer and president of Ayala Corp.; Manny Pangilinan, chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.; Jose Molano Jr., executive director of the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and CFO chairman Dante Ang.
Aboitizland said it will support the event through themed lunches for the Fil-Am groups, particularly on Jan. 22 at the Sea View Lounge of the Supercat Terminal in Pier 4. This will be done in cooperation with Supercat and the Aboitiz Group.
Aboitizland will also sponsor a real estate forum during the event. In addition, it will hold an exhibit at the Coral Room of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and at the Entreprenoy Trade Exhibit at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall. (CTL/PR)
(January 19, 2005 issue)
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