DOT-7: Aussie travelers in Cebu rising in number

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Tourism Central Visayas office has noted the growing interest of Australian travelers on Cebu.

Tourism Central Visayas regional director Rowena Montecillo said that for the past two months, local tour guides said Australian travel brokers have already made several ocular inspections with hotel/resort facilities within Cebu as well as in Bohol.

"Australians are more into eco-tourism," said Montecillo further explaining that her office together with tourism players here are exploring new sites so that Cebu or the Central Visayas region can have something new to offer.

"We are eyeing new tours outside of what we have been offering to these market in the past years," said Montecillo.

The Australian traveling market is the fifth biggest source of foreign arrivals to the region.

According to Montecillo, to compensate for the long-haul flight from Australia to the Philippines, tourists who come in groups usually stay in Cebu for an average of five days.

As of the first half of the year, arrivals from Australia to the region increased by 13.84 percent or 29,668 arrivals.

Latest DOT record showed that arrivals from Australia to the country rose by 9.26 percent from January to August (2015) with 153,097 arrivals.

DOT-7, she said will help invite tour agents from Australia to come to Cebu.

"We are expecting these Australian tour groups to come here by last quarter of this year," she said.

The improved air transportation connection between Australia and the Philippines is the primary contributor to the rising interest of Australian travelers to the Philippines, including Cebu.

Moreover, carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) have already sought additional seat entitlements to Australia following the new air service agreement between Australia and the Philippines on last April.

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa general manager Nicholas Smith, earlier said that the resort, which has the largest number of resort rooms on Mactan Island, noted an encouraging booking from Australian market.

Australian guests on the other hand is growing at a five percent rate mostly as foreign individual travelers (FIT), said Shangri-La's   director of sales and marketing Albert Lafuente. (FREEMAN)