Friday, January 05, 2007 Tourism players set sights beyond ‘el cheapo’ arrivals
THOUGH tourism players are expecting another increase in the number of tourists this year, some of them want a change of strategy by targeting the “higher-yield” market.
Robert Lim Joseph, who heads the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, told the 888 News Forum last Tuesday that Cebu should start upgrading skills training programs for tourists in the A market.
“We’d like to target a better niche market and avoid the el cheapo tourists,” Joseph said.
Joseph told forum participants that they are working well with the Department of Tourism on this project and are starting with the A market in Japan and Korea.
He said that in his Philippine Airlines flight from Nagoya, Japan, there were 150 “very young” Japanese tourists with him. “Single people who are coming in want to spend money,” he explained.
Lifestyle
He added that one class A tourist spends just as much as 50 to 100 lower class tourists.
This, he said, will also change the Cebuano lifestyle.
“Good caviar and the best champagne have to be made available,” he said.
For this to work, Joseph is suggesting that local governments do something about the poverty around the city.
“If you’re here celebrating and all your neighbors are poor and watching you, you can’t be happy,” he said.
For his part, Marco Polo General Manager Hans Hauri said there was a need to change the perception that Cebu is “exclusively for beach bums.”
He believes the south coast such as the towns of Moalboal and Badian has not been explored enough.
“We have fantastic sceneries and can have historic cultural encounters as opposed to just white sand beaches,” Hauri said. Impressions
But Hauri was disappointed to learn that some decorative lamp posts have been pilfered, while some of the beautification efforts for the summit are not maintained.
He said Cebu has benefited from the newly paved roads and well-lit streets that have created a good appearance for tourists.
He is encouraging Cebuanos to maintain the cleanliness to create a lasting impression.
“Tourism is a cash industry. The money will not come in five years’ time. It is instant,” he said.
Tourism, he pointed out, also creates job opportunities. For every guest, more staff members are hired in a hotel, an airport and a souvenir shop.
He also believes Cebu has enough hotel rooms to accommodate the influx of local and foreign tourists with the opening of hotels in downtown Cebu. (MEA)
