BUDGET travelers to Cebu are on the rise.
Thus, the emergence of hostels, an accommodation facility for budget-conscious tourists.
Kloodie del Rosario Chiongbian, owner of Chiasti Capsule Hostel, said there’s a rising need for low-cost lodging facilities in Cebu.
Aside from luxury hotels, Cebu needs to expand its accommodation options, especially those catering to backpackers who seek for cheap travel.
This business is a boon, according to Chiongbian who recently opened Chiasti, a hostel with 28 capsules, located along the bustling Archbishop Reyes Avenue in Cebu City.
“We target both local and international backpackers and budget travelers who are always on the go and just need to have a place to stay and freshen up, at the same time meet new friends and learn different cultures,” she told SunStar Cebu.
Chiongbian said shared dorm facilities are growing in demand.
“The potential of having a hostel in Cebu City is high because foreign visitors who come to see our wonderful mountains and beaches, they eventually look for something familiar and look for a comfortable place to stay in the heart of the city,” she said.
A number of tourists in Cebu especially the backpackers look for affordable places.
Each capsule is equipped with a bed light, charging dock, cellphone/ tablet holder, hooks and hanger.
For valuables, Chiasti has lockers in the common area. The hostel is also monitored by a 24-hour security camera. Chiasti is walking distance from the city’s business centers, the Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park.
In 2018, tourist arrivals in Central Visayas reached 8.099 million, up 16 percent from 6.974 million in 2017. The 2019 arrivals is expected to log a higher growth on the back of the thriving tourism business in the region. (CSL)