THE Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 has announced that the celebration for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the country slated in 2021 will push through.
DOT 7 Director Shahlimar Tamano, during the Cebu Heritage webinar on Sunday, July 5, 2020, said plans are underway for the significant event that would highlight Cebu’s role in Christianity in Southeast Asia.
“We have postponed a lot of activities but the 500th year celebration, we can’t postpone that. Whether we like it or not, it’s going to happen six months from now,” he said.
With this, Tamano urged the local government units (LGUs) to keep track of their own culture and heritage assets as they prepare for the gradual recovery of tourism from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tamano said the LGUs play an important role in the recovery of the tourism industry as they are experts in the history of their respective towns and cities.
“Our culture in Cebu is unique. We cannot overemphasize the role of the LGUs on tourism,” he said.
The tourism industry was in the middle of laying down the plans for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in Asia when the pandemic hit, affecting the travel itineraries of both local and foreign tourists to Central Visayas as well as all tourism-related businesses.
Because of this, Tamano said the DOT and industry leaders are working double time for the gradual reopening of the world-class tourist spots in Cebu.
Tamano said they regularly meet with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and the mayors in the province to usher in the new safety protocols for diving, canyoneering and other tourism activities.
“Slowly and surely, we can open our destinations in accordance to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases guidelines,” he said.
According to an earlier report, if handled properly, the 500th commemoration of Christianity in Cebu will usher economic growth in the province through faith-based tourism.
Former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor said the importance of faith will make people move from one country to another.
“Faith makes people travel. If they do the right marketing and promotion, I cannot imagine what kind of numbers and revenues we’re talking now, especially the kind of marketing effort that will be extended to the rest of the world,” she said.
The event is expected to attract thousands of pilgrims and will have a huge impact on the business ecosystem of Cebu, Gabor said.