Cebu tourism players brace for Chinese market rebound

CEBU, Philippines -  While bookings from the Chinese market has started to pick-up in Cebu as the Chinese new year approaches, industry players expressed concern of uncertainty of receiving more bookings from this particular market.

“There is still a degree of uncertainty, issuing VISA to the Philippines [from the Chinese government]. And the question of mobilizing sufficient flights in a relatively short time [17 days left] is a concern,” said Hotel, Resort an Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Hans Hauri.

Hauri, the general manager for Marco Polo Plaza Cebu said that his hotel have received bookings from different groups from mainland China, from Guangzhou Province, Shanghai and Taiwan.

Other hotels in the City reported have good booking status from the Chinese market this year, compared to the almost-zero booking in 2012.

Cebu Parklane International Hotel general manager Cenelyn Manguilimotan said that the hotel has blocked 100 rooms for its Chinese guests that will spend their Chinese New Year vacation in Cebu this year.

According to Manguilimotan the Chinese visitors are booked to stay in 241-rooms from February 10 to 14. Last year, she said the hotel got no booking from this particular market for the Chinese new year season.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu director for sales and marketing Ann Olalo reported that the hotel is preparing to host 10 groups to come by batches, on a tour series package that will be brought by the Dong Fang Chartered Flights.

“China market is picking up. February is a good gauge for the market’s come back, starting with the Chinese New Year,” said Olalo in an interview.

Hauri said that Cebu hotels are generally preparing for the Chinese market rebound.

“We are ready to welcome back our friends from China to show them why ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines.’ There will be the Xin Nien Festival at Ayala Center Cebu to celebrate Chinese new year, the start of the water snake,” he said adding that HRRAC-member hotels make special efforts to decorate their lobbies with the traditional colors of red and gold.

“Marco Polo is adding firecrackers, lion-dance, ushering out dragon and welcoming the snake, tossing of the Yee sang for prosperity, sharing red packets/laycees and all the delicacies of the occasion at the Cafe Marco Buffet,” added Hauri.

Prior to the travel ban of the Republic of China government against the Philippines middle of this year, due to “territorial dispute,  the DOT has announced its plan to attract considerable number of Chinese tourist getting a bigger chunk of the 88 million Chinese who are expected to travel outside of their country in the next four years.

According to DOT, the Philippines is counting the Chinese market as one of the top growth drivers for tourism arrivals in the Philippines, while it has seen a significant turn-around of arrivals from China in the last few months. (FREEMAN)