Towns urged to learn from Suroy program

While the government-led tourism program "Suroy-Suroy Sa Sugbo” made a successful turn-around in boosting countryside tourism industries in Cebu, an economist believes that it could take off further in attracting visitors if the Provincial government fully delegates the program to the private sector.

Economics academician Perry Fajardo believes that culture of tourism in the countryside areas will be boosted if the "Suroy-Suroy Sa Sugbo" will be made a regular attraction, taking out the "superficial" preparations of the municipalities only during the specified date of "Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo."

Although Fajardo is not criticizing the good initiative of Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia to boost countryside tourism, he said it would be best for the towns to learn from the program on their own, rather than depend on the Governors' action.

“What’s happening now is that because the Governor is there in every 'Suroy-Suroy' event, the municipalities are forced to prepare for festivities, and offer food for free," he said.

It would be best for the towns to learn on their own, and make the program as a model in inviting tourists, whose interests are mostly to taste the exotic experiences in each town, or the "adventure" tourism itself.

"The real tourist is somebody from Europe who takes a bus ride to far-flung town destination," he said adding that a tourist should experience the reality of the life in a non-urban attraction, or the exotic destinations in Cebu, taking out the artificial festival and food preparations in a limited time.

Under the "Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo" program, various towns and cities in the province of Cebu open their doors to both domestic and foreign tourists, showcasing the best their place has to offer.

Garcia, in partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) launched the "Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo" few years back to promote the attractions of the entire province from the northern to southern tip of the island.

For her part, National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas-Cebu) president Jenny Franco lauded the Governor's initiative, saying that with this program LGUs or the different towns in Cebu province are ushered to a greater revenue opportunity in tourism, and the Governor's leadership is actually showcasing and teaching townsfolk to adopt culture of tourism.

"It is actually creating awareness to the countryside, how tourism should be promoted in their respective areas," Franco said.

In this way, Franco said LGUs are encouraged to boost their tourism industries as well as supporting sectors, thereby developing a tourism culture and revenue generating industry.

According to Franco, travel agents that make the "Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo" a year-round tour package, even if the Governor is not present during a particular tour, provided that the LGUs are ready to host tourists and have proper tourism related infrastructure.