Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Capitol officials to attend tourism forum in Thailand
OFFICIALS of the Cebu Provincial Government will go to Thailand next week for the East Asia Tourism Forum (Eatof) where they will have a chance to market Cebu before representatives of at least 10 countries.
Cebu will also discuss with other Eatof-member countries the various tourism efforts within the region.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Province has already sold out all seats in its local tourism program, the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Northern Escapade.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano had earlier said the local tourism industry is doing well, but it is better to expand Cebu’s tourism market beyond Korea, Japan, and the United States, which are on top of Cebu’s list of number of tourists.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and provincial lawmakers will be accompanied by officers from the National Government and business sectors.
Leader
In this year’s assembly, the forum may also see Cebu emerge as leader among the members. This is because in last year’s forum, Gangwon Korea Gov. Kim Jun Sun, who founded the organization, appealed to Cebu to keep what could have been a “dying” organization, alive.
Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, head of the committee on tourism, said the “father of Eatof bequeathed” the organization to the Cebu governor. Magpale was one of those who worked with other countries when Eatof was formed in 1998.
Magpale had quoted Kim Jun Sun as saying that Cebu must “lead the way” before Eatof dies.
The Eatof was founded in 1998 to promote cooperation in East Asia in terms of tourism. It has nine members but other countries will be attending next week’s event including Australia, New Zealand, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei.
Members
The member provinces include Jilin, China; Tottori, Japan; Gangwon, Korea; Sarawak, Malaysia; Quang Ninh, Vietnam and this year’s host, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Aside from being able to discuss policies and forge agreements, Cebu’s delegation is expected to join a travel mart, where they can promote Cebu to travel representatives from participating countries.
Delegations from different countries, including Cebu, will also have presentations regarding various products produced from their localities.
“It is important to note that these events will be attended by Eatof delegates, travel and tourism representatives as well as members of the general public,” said Chiang Mai Gov. Vichai Srikwan in a letter to the Cebu Provincial Government.
Cebu’s lawmakers will also attend an “academic tourism symposium,” which will discuss the development and sustainability of tourism in East Asia. (JPM)
