THERE is no ban on day trips and walk-in customers at tourism sites in southern Cebu, but only a “structured approach” to allow for better crowd management and tour coordination.
Sugbo News, the official media arm of the Cebu Provincial Government, issued an erratum on Saturday, February 15, 2025, regarding a news story it posted on Thursday, Feb. 13, titled “No more day trips, walk-ins in southern Cebu’s tourist spots by March.” The original post was removed two hours later without any follow-up update.
Only on Saturday morning did Sugbo News release an official statement addressing the policy, following an uproar from netizens, especially tour operators and guides who depend heavily on do-it-yourself tourist itineraries.
In the erratum, Sugbo News said the Cebu Provincial Government is not restricting or banning tourists but instead will offer “a new online booking system...to enhance visitor experience, improve safety, and support sustainable tourism.” To realize this, the Capitol will push through with an ordinance to be passed by the Cebu Provincial Board.
“In order that such regulation is done in the most transparent and properly accountable manner, the guidelines shall be defined in an ordinance to be passed by the Provincial Board and is expected to be implemented by March,” a portion of the erratum reads.
Erratum
The erratum, whose comment section was disabled, stated that “Sugbo News recently published an erroneous report regarding the supposed tourism policy that will be implemented by Cebu Province in popular destinations in southern Cebu.”
In its deleted post on Thursday, it said that the “Cebu Provincial Government will no longer allow day trips or walk-in customers in popular tourist destinations in southern Cebu starting March this year” in the towns of Moalboal, Badian, Alegria and Oslob.
The post further stated that “tourists will have to book at the Capitol’s tourism ‘online portal’ to avail themselves of the activities and explore additional itinerary options.”
However, the erratum clarified that “to be clear, the Cebu Provincial Government is not banning tourists nor restricting access to these destinations...starting March, a new online booking system will be implemented...”
The erratum added that the Province will regulate whale shark watching in Oslob and the sardine run in Moalboal, in the same way that it has regulated canyoneering activities in Badian, which “has resulted in increased revenue collection for the Municipality of Badian.”
“This will generate revenue not only for resort operators but also for LGUs (local government units),” the erratum said, adding that the LGU is at the forefront of maintaining the sites, ensuring public safety and keeping the area clean and sustainable.
The Provincial Government also took over the operation of Kawasan Falls in Barangay Matutinao in Badian in 2023 to further develop and popularize the well-known tourist destination in southwest Cebu.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia ordered the abandoned structures damaged by typhoon Odette in 2021 to be torn down and other objects that posed risks to visitors and swimmers to be removed.
Garcia said the Provincial Government’s support was also needed to regulate canyoneering activities at Kawasan Falls.
Southwest Cebu is famous for the diving spots and sardine run in Moalboal; canyoneering in Kawasan Falls and the beach in Lambug in Badian; and canyoneering in Alegria; while southeast Cebu is known for whale shark watching and the Tumalog Falls in Oslob.
“Totality of experience”
The erratum further said the aim of the policy is to give tourists a “totality of experience” by encouraging them to also book resorts and spend more leisure time in the tourist destinations.
“In other words, there is no interruption in tourism activities as earlier erroneously reported by Sugbo News,” a portion of the erratum reads.
It said that tourists are still “very much welcome,” adding that the new system would simply “ensure smoother scheduling and avoid overcapacity.”
“We apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. We thank you for your understanding, and we remain committed to providing clear and constructive news coverage for our readers,” it said.
The erroneous post worried Jham Letigio, who has been working as a tour guide in southern Cebu for the last eight years.
Letigio, in a chat message to SunStar on Friday, Feb. 14, said “the plan to digitalize the tour packages and itineraries in southern Cebu is an attempt to centralize the tourism system, but it may result in higher costs for tourist packages than a do-it-yourself itinerary, where local tour guides and operators depend heavily.”
“It really has a huge impact... and it’s a hassle for both the tour guides and the tourists. Small operators and tour guides mostly rely on walk-in guests, especially in towns like Moalboal and Oslob,” he said in Cebuano.