Power problems to cause major setback in tourism

CEBU, Philippines - With 2009 coming to an end, the tourism sector is also hoping that the energy deficiency in Cebu will also be concluded and would be normalized by the start of 2010.

National Association of Independent Travel Agencies of the Philippines Chairman emeritus Robert Lim Joseph said in a recent interview that they are asking the current administration for immediate attention on the matter.

“We are appealing the president to come and check this and make this a priority,” said Joseph who stressed that the success that the tourism industry especially the Department of Tourism has enjoyed over the year after continually gearing up on its promotional activities will go to waste if the problem on energy will not be acted upon.

Joseph said that this should be given due importance especially as Cebu is reaping more and more tourists over the year and as they foresee this to continue in the coming year.

He said that as of now, Cebu has more domestic tourists and flights arriving than Manila .

“Sayang naman ang efforts ng DOT at ng ibang sectors. What would happen also to the investments like for new hotels?”

Joseph said that the wheels of progress will stop if the issue would not be given due diligence and would cause not only problems to the tourism sector but as well as other industries.

“This will create a multiplier effect,” said Lim who added that this would have consequence as well to employment and other sectors like the Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions industry which Cebu is also working hard for.

“Imagine how many conventions we will lose.”

Joseph also pointed out that the business sector is highly affected with the energy insufficiency as not all companies are capable of having their own generator unlike the big industries since generators would cause them a huge amount of money.

Energy supply and reserve in Cebu reached to a critical level this year after demand increased and some old power plants broke down which caused continuous brown out all over the city.

Joseph said that they are all hoping that this would be addressed to immediately in order to have bright year ahead for Cebu and to continue on promoting the province as one of the premiere destinations in the country.