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Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Cebu needs cheaper hotels; idle houses can provide tourists beds
Cebu should develop “bed-and-breakfast” type hotels to accommodate foreign and domestic tourists.
University of Asia and the Pacific School of Economics dean Bernardo Villegas said the entrepreneurs can invest in such hotels that can be found in many places in Europe.
“As long as you have clean bathrooms, clean linen and good breakfast, that’s good enough,” he said in an economic briefing earlier this month. He added that tourists would rather go to beaches and explore the city than stay in their hotel room.
In an interview yesterday, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Robert Go said the “bed-and-breakfast” concept is good and attractive.
Backpackers
“It would fit best the backpackers. Thailand has many backpackers because they have very affordable hotel rooms,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
He said Cebu residents with big houses that they don’t use should consider opening these to tourists.
He stressed, though, that cleanliness should be practiced and maintained in all facilities to serve and attract visitors.
Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Eric Mendoza, on the other hand, said low budget hotels would always be a “come-on” to tourists.
He said the “bed-and-breakfast” concept would attract a large number of middle class tourists “because the biggest number of our tourists don’t come from the high-end class.”
In a separate interview yesterday, Eastland Property Ventures Inc. (EPVI) administration manager Nelba Pangilinan said Alhensen Development Inc., owner and developer of Eastland Estates and Sarrosa Hotel and International Suites, is now heading into this direction.
“We are currently looking for properties like small pension houses for us to acquire, develop and improve … to open them for local and foreign tourists with quality hotel services,” she said.
She said there are many pension houses in Cebu City, if only developed and improved, that can be used to address the city’s room shortage.
EPVI is the marketing arm of Alhensen Development Inc.
Villegas had said the Philippines has “very few” hotels, which is why the country has high room rates, which is not attractive to tourists. (ALC)
(December 28, 2005 issue)
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