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Saturday, April 23, 2005
Business group to help showcase Cebu towns
THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), in cooperation with the Province of Cebu, is initiating the big step in showcasing the other towns in Cebu province to both local and foreign tourists.
According to Cebu Business Month (CBM) 2005 chairperson for tourism Tetta Baad, the “Suroy Suroy Sugbu 2005,” one of the events of this year’s CBM, will allow local and foreign tourists to see the rich cultural heritage of the northern and southern areas of Cebu.
“We (tourism committee) had a branding exercise during which we wanted to find out what is Cebu’s niche in the tourism market. We have white-sand beaches, but so do other tourist destinations in the country,” Baad told a press conference at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel last Thursday.
“We agreed that Cebu is the only province with a rich and wide cultural heritage. Cebu is a festive island, where its Christian heritage is celebrated with passion. So we decided to start branding Cebu as that,” she added.
“Suroy Suroy Sugbu” is a test program to encourage local and foreign tourists to tour the island province over three weekends by tourist bus, car and other motor vehicles in a caravan.
The areas to be visited are Camotes Island, Danao City, Sogod, Hagnaya, Sta. Fe, Bantayan, Madridejos, Daan-bantayan, Catmon, Argao, Dalaguete, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Samboan, Badian, Moalboal, Duman-jug, Barili and Carcar.
Baad said participants will get the traditional Cebuano welcome in the towns, especially those where the caravan will stop for cultural, historical and tourist landmarks.
Develop
Cebu Association of Tour Operators president Alice Queblatin said the tour will also encourage the towns and cities along the route of the caravan to develop their tourism potentials.
She said tourism development in an area include the identification of historical, cultural and tourist sites, training of townspeople in conducting tours, organizing a home stay program and enhancing products and business potentials of the area.
“This project is the chance for each town in the province. They can decide whether to join (in the development of Cebu’s tourism industry) or be left behind,” Queblatin said.
Subsidized
In a separate interview, Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Regional Director Patria Aurora “Dawnie” Roa, who is also chairperson of the tourism committee of the Provincial Heritage and Tourism Council, said the “Suroy Suroy Sugbu” is being subsidized by the Provincial Government.
“We hope to institutionalize the event and encourage local government units to put up facilities for the development of tourism in their respective areas,” she said. (JBN)
(April 23, 2005 issue)
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