FOR the tourism industry in Cebu to achieve its goals, the government and private sectors have to draft and implement a master plan that integrates infrastructure development and policies related to other aspects of the province’s growth.
Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) and honorary consul of the Republic of Latvia to the Philippines, pointed out the need for a master plan that would not only guide developments in the tourism sector but also lay out guidelines how other sectors—like agriculture—can be harnessed to attract more tourists.
“There has to be a master plan. We cannot just put a hospital next to a resort. There has to be zoning. If there is no planning, there will be problems,” he told news reporters following the 888 News Forum at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino yesterday.
He said the master plan should guide infrastructure development in Cebu and identify strategies how the province’s resources can be used to achieve further growth in tourism.
“For example, we can promote corn and all materials that come from it. We can have a corn festival in the mountains (as an activity for tourists),” he said. “We can further develop mangoes (mango growing industry),” he added.
Curriculum
Joseph said he is also talking with the academe on how to improve the curricula of tourism-related courses so that the skills of graduates will answer the needs of the industry.
He said Naitas’ target of 3.5 million (not billion, as earlier reported) tourists in 10 to 15 years in Cebu can be achieved and even surpassed if the master plan is in place.
He said the initiative for the master plan must come from the private sector and the government.
He admitted, though, that before the master plan can be drafted there should be a review of all existing plans by government. He said he is coordinating with various government agencies over the drafting of the master plan.
He said tourism in Cebu is bound to grow further. He said that last year, domestic tourist arrivals in Cebu reached 1.5 million while the number of foreign tourists coming to the province was reported to be about 650,000.
“We don’t discriminate but we want to attract more five- and six-star tourists (big spenders),” he said, adding that the tourism industry is also promoting Cebu as adventure tourism destination, aside from being an ideal venue for wellness activities and conventions (meetings, incentive trips, conventions and exhibits).
He said the Philippine International Tourism Fair, the second to be held in Cebu, will further promote Cebu in this aspect.
The PITF will open at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) tomorrow. The PITF is held in tandem with the Cebu Business Month 2008 Tourism Congress, which will open today, also at CICC. (LAP)
