TOURISTS from mainland China will continue to flock to Cebu, as they emerge as the fastest growing tourist market for the island province.
Chinese Consul General Jia Li said the number of Chinese tourists in Cebu is expected to further increase this year.
“The number of Chinese tourists has greatly increased,” he said at a reception dinner for the 70th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.
“In 2018, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Region 7 stood at 630,000, an increase of 45 percent,” the consul said.
He said there are currently 36 flights a week between Mactan-Cebu International Airport and several cities in China.
More sister-city agreements
Speaking before stakeholders of the Chinese community in Cebu, he noted the improved relations between the Visayas region in general and China.
“First, the number of sister provinces and sister cities is increasing,” Li said, adding there are currently 12 provinces and cities in the Visayas with “sister city” agreements with their counterparts in China.
“More sister city or province relationships are being worked on,” he said.
He also mentioned China’s increasing investment in various key sectors, such as infrastructure, telecommunications, green energy and tourism.
The friendship between China and the Philippines has a long history, the Chinese consul said.
Li reiterated the two countries “deepened agreements” for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian economic superpower’s strategic infrastructure buildup plan in the region.
“The pragmatic and friendly cooperation between China and the Philippines is in the common interest of the two nations and will bring tangible benefits to the people of both countries,” he said.
Presently, China is the Philippines’ largest trading partner, the largest source of imports, third largest export market and the second largest source of tourists.
“The economic and trade cooperation of the two countries have blossomed everywhere and humanities exchanges have flourished,” said.
In 2020, the two nations are celebrating their 45th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
“Standing at this new historical starting point, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu is willing to work together with all sectors in the Visayas region to strengthen cooperation, deepen friendship and jointly create a better future for China and the Philippines,” he said.