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Saturday, August 19, 2006
Tourism stakeholders agree to form coalition
Stakeholders of Cebu’s tourism industry has agreed to work together in one organization for the sole purpose of fast-tracking the developments of the industry and make it competitive with other tourism hubs in other parts of Asia.
As first step to achieve the goal, stakeholder groups decided to establish a coalition.
This was among the concerns discussed during the planning meeting initiated by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) tourism committee at the Parklane International Hotel last Thursday.
Representatives from the Department of Tourism, the academe and various tourism organizations—such as the Cebu Association of Tour Operators, and the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu—decided that the coalition should be formed as soon as possible.
Cebu Plus
CCCI is also looking at the possibility of reviving the Cebu Plus, a program that identified 15 “safe, clean, compelling, attractive, friendly tourism destination clusters that are just a few hours’ travel from Cebu City.”
Tourism stakeholders also treat as priority the need to establish the Cebu tourism brand, the continuation of efforts to cultivate the culture of tourism and obtain additional funding.
In an earlier interview, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland said the Canadian International Development Agency (Cida), through its Private Enterprises Accelerated Linkages (Pearl) 2, is willing to provide technical and financial assistance to Cebu’s tourism industry.
“But the industry must organize first and apply (for assistance) as one,” he had said.
Pearl 2 has provided technical and financial assistance to improve the capability of business support organizations such as the CCCI, Cebu-GTH (gifts, toys, and housewares) Manufacturers and Exporters and the Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation Inc. Cebu in serving their members, which are mostly small and medium enterprises (SME).
Mila Espina, CCCI tourism committee chair, said she has discussed the industry’s need for funding with Sutherland.
“But he said we have to be a bigger group. We have to unite in a bigger organization without losing the identity of each association,” she said.
Lawyer Anastacio Montuerto Jr., former president of the CCCI, said forming a coalition among various stakeholders should not be difficult in Cebu.
As for Cebu Plus, CCCI vice president for external affairs Teodoro Locson said the chamber wants to evaluate if the program is still relevant.
Conceptualized by CCCI’s tourism core group (TCG), Cebu Plus identified the destination clusters that can be promoted with Cebu.
Destinations
These were: Cebu/Mactan, Southeast Cebu (Carcar to Oslob/Manta-longon), Southwest Cebu (Badian/Pescador/Moalboal), North Cebu (Bogo, San Remegio, Bantayan, Malapascua), Northeast Cebu (Danao, Carmen, Camotes), Bohol, Dumaguete/Siquijor, Boracay, Bacolod/Iloilo, Palawan, Tacloban/Guiuan, Surigao/Siargao, Zambo-anga/Iligan/Dipolog, Camiguin/Cagayan de Oro, and Legaspi/Sorsogon.
Under Cebu Plus, Cebu will serve as the hub with the rest of the areas as spokes that complement each other in promoting tourism, TCG chairman Xavier Aboitiz earlier said.
According to Locson, the program failed to take off due to opposition by other provinces that branded Cebu as “imperial Cebu.” (JBN)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 19, 2006 issue)
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