City hotels experience low occupancy rate during Lent

CEBU, Philippines - While City hotels in Cebu reported a lower occupancy rate compared to ordinary days during the long Lenten season break, resorts and other countryside destinations in Cebu are enjoying influx of visitors both domestic and foreign tourists.

Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Hans Hauri said in an interview yesterday that the popularity of whale-shark attraction in the southern part of Cebu, particularly in the town of Oslob has energized the southern coastal towns.

“This year’s [lenten season] seems to build-up around the resorts, namely Mactan and other islands like Oslob with its whale-shark watching, Bohol with its new additions to the leisure scene, then Palawan with the ‘new wonders of the world’---all deviations from the City-life,” said Hauri explaining that the City hotels are not getting the same high occupancy rates as the resorts and island-based accommodation facilities in this season.

Hauri, who is also the general manager for Marco Polo Plaza Cebu said that city hotels are joining with airlines to fill vacant inventory, “be seats or bed.”

He added that airlines are also reporting seat availability throughout this Easter Week, while resorts are expecting “full-house”.

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casinos reported an 85 percent occupancy rate as of Monday, while Cebu City Marriott Hotel experienced a slightly lower occupancy for the entire lenten season.

Plantation Bay Resort and Spa on Mactan Island, also on its high occupancy rate in the average of 85 percent for the entire week, said general manager Efren Belarmino.

“Over-all business is up against last year when Asia was shaken by the aftermath of Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan,” said Hauri.

He also said the Cebu has already noticed a dent with a fall of European visitors “as Cebu is no longer serviced by Qatar Airways—the only connection via Middle East.”

Meanwhile, Cebu has already been anticipating the much dynamic tourism year for Cebu in 2012. Private sector led by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is intensifying its bid to further promote the countryside tourism, as a complementary program to the existing “Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo.”

On the other hand, tourism capitalist and prime mover Jay P. Aldeguer said while Cebu is naturally blessed with the tourism wealth, specifically with the existence of whale-sharks in Oslob, this has to be given serious attention and utmost care.

Both private and government sectors in the tourism industry should work closely together in taking care of the natural-based attractions in Cebu. Proper care and rules should be implemented especially in the influx of whale-shark in Oslob. (FREEMAN)