ALTHOUGH the initial venues in mind for the 2017 Miss Universe swimsuit competition are two resorts in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City Councilor James Cuenco said he will meet with Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino and Mayor Tomas Osmeña this week to discuss the matter.
As chairman of the committee on tourism, Cuenco said he will also coordinate with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to have more details on the plan.
“It’s still a proposal. There’s no definite plan yet, but I’ll convene with DOT to discuss it better and make an audience with the Mayor and Dino. That’s very good news,” he told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview yesterday.
In a report yesterday, Dino, who met with DOT Secretary Wanda Teo, confirmed that Cebu will have a participation in the contest because the tourism department wants to showcase the island’s beaches.
Although the city does not have an abundance of white beaches, Cuenco said with the competition being in time with the celebration of the Sinulog Festival, more tourists are expected to visit.
Given that the contest only lasts for an hour or two, he said the City Government will have to maximize the opportunity through social media.
Aside from the contest itself, Cuenco said social media could also help highlight the city’s life to attract more tourists.
Resorts
Dino said the competition will be held at Movenpick Hotel and Mactan Island’s Shangri-la Resort and Spa, both in Lapu-Lapu City.
“It will be a historic event of the country and Cebu to be part of Miss Universe 2017. The mileage and goodwill Cebu will gain in hosting the swimsuit competition will be enormous,” said Glenn Soco, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).
“Social media and technology will help shape the success of our hosting. Also, looking forward to when you Google “Miss Universe,” Cebu will be there,” said Soco, who is also a newscaster of TV5 television network.
Businessman Bunny Pages, on the other hand, said he fully supports the idea because it would be good for business, especially those in the restaurant industry.
Pages, a member of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), owns Moon Cafe and Lantaw Restaurant, among others.
“It would bring local and foreign tourists to Cebu to watch the event. It would also showcase Cebu to the rest of the world. Let’s go for it. Cebu’s ready,” said Pages, who is presently on vacation in Vancouver, Canada.
Distraction
For his part, businessman Dondi Joseph, president of the Cebu Business Club, said that he thinks it will be fun to hold the swimsuit competition in Cebu.
“It will be a good distraction from the traffic and politics,” said Joseph, who is also a member of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB), which is advocating for Mega Cebu.
Robert “Bobby” Lim Joseph of the National Independent Travel Agencies (Nitas) also said that holding an event like this can attract more tourists to Cebu.
Bobby Joseph, who is also the co-founder of 888 News Forum in Cebu, said that Miss Universe will again put Cebu on the world map.