Wednesday, October 24, 2007 DOT exec still optimistic about future of Cebu’s tourism sector
AN official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) expressed optimism about Cebu’s tourism industry despite the recent blast at Glorietta 2 mall in Makati, which killed 11 people and injured more than 100 others.
Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo said the incident at the Glorietta shopping mall was “an isolated case” and that Cebu’s tourism industry will continue to be upbeat.
Citing a study by the World Tourism Organization on terrorism, Alburo said tourists, in general, are aware that terrorism can strike anywhere and anytime, but what is important for them is the assurance that the government is “on top of the situation.”
“It’s not even confirmed (yet) if it was a terrorist attack but still one must remain vigilant,” he added.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Alburo said he is confident that Cebu’s popular shopping malls are still “safe” as security measures have been enhanced. He added that concerned local government units are also doing their best to avoid unpleasant incidents affecting foreign and local tourists.
Get on
“Initially, there is fear. But if we discourage tourists to go out, we make the terrorists happy. And we can’t have them win. We need to go on with our lives,” he said.
Since the explosion at the mall, Alburo admitted that the DOT 7 has been receiving inquiries from tourists who were “curious” about the incident. But he said the DOT has not received any reports of cancelled tours.
He said tourist arrivals, especially in Cebu, will continue to grow as local tourism stakeholders are “aggressively” selling Cebu globally as an ideal tourist and business destination in the Philippines.
In a document furnished to Sun.Star Cebu, DOT 7 revealed that tourist arrivals in Cebu Province jumped 23.22 percent in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2006.
From a total of 710,155 in the same period last year, visitor arrivals registered in Cebu rose to 875,062 from January to July this year. Of the total figure, 358,148 were foreign visitors while domestic travelers reached 515,914.
The Koreans remain to be the top market visitors with 138,286, followed by the Japanese (77,423) and the Americans (40,517) from January to July this year.
The number of European tourists, a potentially growing market, increased by 46.36 in the first seven months of the year with 37,833 arrivals, compared to 26,027 in 2006.
“Cebu remains to be peaceful, and that’s what makes us an ideal and exciting destination,” Alburo said. (MMM)
