Cebu pushed as top shopping destination

CEBU, Philippines - Women leaders in Cebu led by Melanie Ng and Camille Aldeguer, vowed to make Cebu to be in the spotlight as the top shopping destination in Asia.

This advocacy followed after this year’s Cebu Business Month (CBM 2013) launched the “Cebu in Bag: Island Madness Sale that will become an annual institutionalized program that will promote Cebu’s potential as shopping destination.

From merely offering discounted products and services limited only to participating tenants in the shopping malls, now, this program will include other industry sectors such as medical institutions, academe, hotels, resorts, restaurants, airlines, shipping companies, carbon market vendors, exporters, service providers, among others to offer the most pocket-friendly “Cebu.”

Aldeguer, a souvenir magnate, whose family owns the largest souvenir shop chain the Philippines, the Islands Souvenirs Inc., (ISI) is determined to make Cebu a distinctive shopping destination, by getting all the industries together and make Cebu sets apart from other shopping destinations in the world.

Aldeguer, the chairperson of the “Cebu In the Bag: Island Madness Sale, believes that Cebu has a unique and attractive proposition when it comes to shopping.

Inspired by the success of the sale events of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai, the committee behind this year’s CBM wanted to create a month long sale festival that would attract both local and foreign tourists to experience shopping in Cebu.

“Cebu has its own distinct flavor. Of course, we take inspiration from other shopping destinations in the world, like Singapore and others, but we have our own unique flavor,” said Aldeguer.

Likewise, Ng, who owns several companies, and operates retail shops for fashion and gems stones accessories, said that this advocacy will go hand in hand in the chamber’s promotion and commitment to advance tourism sector in Cebu.

One of the great come-ons the strong participation of the exporters to the program, said Ng. “This is the first that exporters are opening their doors to the local market. Their products are sought after world-wide, we should make the most out of this,” Ng said.

Meanwhile, exporters, local retailers, carbon market vendors, producers in Cebu will converge in a five-day complete shopping event, called “Great Cebu Tabo” at the downtown area in Cebu, as part of the Cebu Business Month (CBM 2013) celebration.

This is to offer the “best” of Cebu in terms of shopping choices, starting off another branding of making Cebu a “true-blue” shopping destination.

The “Great Cebu Tabo,” is also part of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCIs) newly launched program the “Cebu in the Bag: Island Madness Sale,” which will become an institutionalized event for the chamber, to promote Cebu’s potential as shopping destination.

According to  Aldeguer, the Great Cebu Tabo, is just one of the attractions that both foreign and local consumers will look forward to in promoting Cebu’s shopping attraction. (FREEMAN)