'Lapu developing new tourist attractions

CEBU, Philippines - To stay ahead of the highly competitive tourism market, the local government unit of Lapu-Lapu City led by Mayor Paz Radaza is conducting a cultural mapping program to develop new tourist attractions in the city.

In her speech during the recently concluded cultural mapping workshop attended by the city’s 300 SK members and barangay captains, Radaza encouraged Lapu-Lapu leaders to make tourism as one of the top revenue drivers for the city.

According to Radaza, her administration will make Olango Island as the new frontier in creating new tourist attractions.

With this, an intensive research utilizing SK and barangay leaders will be conducted to identify newer attractions in Lapu-Lapu. Each barangay will contribute to finding out other attractions and potential tourism destinations.

“Your work is cut out for you. You have the energy and the vigor to go the field and conduct research,” Radaza told SK leaders and barangay captains.

“And because you are digital natives who live and breathe Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media, you will be able to help the city promote our brand new tourist attractions in the world wide web,” the lady Mayor added.

Radaza likewise called on the rest of the city’s leadership to work together with the government “as we endeavor to develop a sustainable tourism program.”

While the city has the facilities, infrastructure and the five star service that the industry can offer, Radaza underscored that Lapu-Lapu needs to further develop new attractions to stay ahead of this highly competitive tourism market.

Radaza envisions a new tourism product founded on the principles of community-based tourism that will include a homestay program.

That is why, she said, evolvement of the leaders in the barangay level is very important for strengthening the tourism advantage of the city.

With the community-based program, “tourists can immerse in the beauty of the island, the history and heritage, and the hospitality of its people,” she said adding that as the LGU creates new tourism product based on eco-tourism “we plan to capacitate our communities so that they will financially benefit from this new endeavor.”

Part of the plan is to teach fishermen to be good tourist guides, and empower local people to lead in promoting ‘immersion program’ showing tourists the beauty of local lifestyle, such as “pag-panginhas” (shellfish picking) and others.

“We will also teach homeowners in identified communities to provide tourists wih a place to stay for the night. They will be trained to do housekeeping just like what hotels and resorts do for their guests. We can tap the women to provide breakfast to tourists availing of our homestay program,” she said.

The women’s organizations can also make bath soap, shampoo, and toiletries that will be provided to the guests who will avail of the homestay.

Since part of its eco-tourism product is the creation of hiking trails, “our fellow Oponganons can be guides to our mangrove forests which serve as natural habitats to wild birds.”

With this plan, Radaza is confident that Lapu-Lapu will be able to catch up with Bali and Phuket.

“Let us show the rest of Cebu that we can be the province’s best bet in tourism,” the Mayor said. (FREEMAN)