ORGANIZERS of the Cebu Business Month (CBM) will kick off its series of virtual events as soon as the government eases the quarantine measures for Cebu City.
Supposedly held on June, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s month-long Cebu Business Month was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s CBM is anchored on the theme, “Bring It On.”
CBM chairman Michael Cubos said this year’s CBM will zero in on the opportunities and challenges of Cebu’s four major sectors—tourism, information technology-business process management (ICT-BPM), creative and entrepreneurship—under the new normal business landscape.
Cubos said everything is set for the CBM 2020, however schedules have been moved depending on the quarantine protocols in Cebu City. Cebu City was placed in an extended enhanced community quarantine until July 15.
Cubos said the virtual discussions will specifically delve into helping losing industries like tourism and entrepreneurship recover from this global health and economic crisis. The virtual sessions will also discuss measures and strategies on how to sustain the growth of winner industries like ICT-BPM and the creative sector.
Experts, industry strategists and economists will be invited to share their expertise and recommendations for the affected business owners or industry players.
“We are strengthening the live streaming component. So even if others cannot come, they can still participate in the event,” Cubos said.
Tourism is one of the badly-hit industries under this pandemic. According to the United Nations World Trade Organization the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a 22 percent fall in international tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2020. The specialized agency added that the crisis could lead to an annual decline of between 60 percent and 80 percent this year.
Domestic demand is expected to recover faster than international demand, according to the UNWTO’s survey. The majority expects to see signs of recovery by the final quarter of 2020 but mostly in 2021. Based on previous crises, leisure travel is expected to recover quicker, particularly travel for visiting friends and relatives, than business travel.
In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism is now looking at linking places with limited to zero cases of Covid-19 cases to open up domestic tourism activities.
This year’s business month celebration is the 24th CBM since its inception. (KOC)