CBM 2013 to promote Cebu as tourism and shopping hub

CEBU, Philippines - In line with its 110th anniversary as a business organization and 17th Cebu Business Month (CBM) celebration this year, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) aims to promote Cebu as an ideal tourism hub and shopping destination in the country and abroad.

With the theme Experience Cebu’s Creative Industries, ICT and BPO, Tourism and Entrepreneurship towards Powering Up for Global Business (Excite Cebu), this year’s CBM highlights the sustainable growth of the present economic foundations of Cebu which include tourism, information and communications technology and business process outsourcing (ICT-BPO), entrepreneurship and creative industries.

The tourism industry, in particular, serves as one of the fastest-growing sector and significant driver of the local economy.

The Department of Tourism projected an increase of around 2.6 to 2.8 million tourist arrivals in Cebu from the 2 million recorded in 2012.

Under the tourism thrust, CBM will launch its Great Cebu Sale on June 2 at SM City Cebu Northwing with the vision of institutionalizing this grand activity as an annual event to promote the products and services of the region locally and globally.

The entire month will also host sales events from the retail, ICT- BPO, furniture, fashion, home accessories, exporters, hotels, restaurants, wellness and fitness, hardware and construction industries.

Great Cebu Sale Chair Maria Camille Villareal-Aldeguer pointed out the significance of the new highlight of the month long event of the chamber, saying that exporters and manufacturers of global brands will come to Cebu and participate in the activity for the first time.

She even noted that most of these world-class items are produced for the global market but are actually made in the country.

“We spend more money in shopping when we go abroad only to find out they are made here. Why not spend your money here then,” she said.

Eyeing Cebu to be a potential shopping destination, the Great Cebu Sale to be initiated by CCCI is designed as similar to the Great Singapore Sale.

Tourism Committee Chair Edwin Ortiz said that players in the hotel, restaurants, resort and airline industries have expressed intent to join the event.

He is also hopeful that an increased participation will be experienced in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, CBM will also power up tourism with the Tourism Congress and Cebu City Tourism Night to be held on June 21 at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

Milagros Espina, consultant and adviser of the CBM 2013 tourism committee, said that the chamber has invited international and local industry experts as speakers of the event which will be participated by stakeholders in the business community, academe and other sectors.

She added that it will also serve as a platform to learn the business models and success stories of Singapore and Thailand that had manage to boost their tourism industries despite economic and environmental struggles.

She further cited that the Tourism Congress will also tackle the issue on branding, acknowledging the need to upscale marketing strategies.

CBM 2013 shall end with the Grand Chamber Awards and Fellowship Night at the Waterfront Lahug on June 28.

Event chair Tess Chan said that the culminating activity will feature the milestones, achievements and roadmaps of the chamber over the 110 years of existence as an organization.

She also said that it will recognize exceptional families and businessmen who have succeeded in the local, national and international arena for at least 50 years and have contributed to the present economic status of Cebu. /JOB (FREEMAN)