Countryside development, Private tourism players identify potential sites

CEBU, Philippines - As the Department of Tourism vowed to focus on Cebu’s countryside tourism development with emphasis on eco-tourism related attractions, private stakeholders are also initiating a move to identify sites with good potential.

Hotel, Resorts, and Restaurant Association of Cebu president Cenelyn Manguilimotan said the private sector started their ocular inspection of potential destinations in the countryside areas of Cebu.

Last week, a group of tourism players went to the southern part of Cebu to check new facilities, destinations and sites that have great potential for strong promotion and support from tourism capitalists.

In an earlier interview with DOT-7 regional director Rowena Montecillo, she said that the department is helping some municipalities in the province to maximize their eco-tourism advantage, to align efforts in promoting adventure tourism in the province.

Montecillo said DOT-7 is slowly working with the respective local government units and tourism prime movers and stakeholders to promote both eco-tourism and adventure tourism destinations in Cebu.

Cebu is deemed as the gateway and urban tourism hub in the Southern Philippines, known for its rich heritage, culture, shopping, night life, fine and world-class hotels and resorts, beaches.

This time, the promotion efforts will also be reinforced to help the community-based tourism sectors, through identifying the areas that have good potential for eco and adventure tourism attractions and activities.

Likewise, the Cebu Provincial government vowed to make community-based tourism as the frontline in its tourism development program, taking advantage of Cebu’s rich potential to make tourism as the top economic driver across the province.

Cebu Provincial Governor Hilario Davide III announced his commitment to advance the development of countryside tourism, empowering the community to grab the golden opportunity of tourism, while providing them the right infrastructure and technical support to make tourism as one of the major livelihood channels among residents.

Also, Davide said that aside from forging strong linkages with the community and the tourism stakeholders, the LGUs will also be encouraged to set up good home-stay programs in their respective towns.

“Tourism is a fiercely competitive market,” Davide said adding that Cebu should take advantage of its resources and positioning as a world-known tourism destination both locally and internationally.

Each town in Cebu province has its own distinct attraction, he said adding that promoting Cebu’s heritage and largely involve the residents is one of the effective programs that will be introduced. — (FREEMAN)