LGUs, church leaders must collaborate on faith tourism

CEBU, Philippines — Local government units in Cebu must closely work with religious leaders to further boost the faith tourism in the province, a historian said.

Professor Jose Eleazar Bersales, head curator at the University of San Carlos Museum, recently said in a forum with Cebu’s tourism stakeholders that there is really a need for cooperation between LGUs and church leaders in helping faith tourism develop.

"LGUs must work with their local religious leaders who own the faith tourism asset to develop faith-based tourist sites, facilities and ancillary attractions," the historian pointed out.

Bersales believes Cebu must also have a marketing plan that will promote its faith-based tourist spots.

"Tourism professionals, tour operators and local religious leaders must jointly develop a tourism marketing plan," he said.

The Cebuano historian also urged religious leaders and institutions to create local travel information centers, both on site and online, and travel accommodations.

The Department of Tourism has said the Philippines' diversely-rich religious culture, though predominantly Roman Catholic, provides a strong catalyst for faith tourism.

The Philippines is seen as an ideal destination for religious pilgrimage, not only for sight-seeing but to actually experience time-honored Filipino traditions dating back to pre-Spanish era, and then the Christianization.

In Cebu, the Sinulog is the biggest religious event that draws a lot of tourists to the province every January of the year to personally witness and experience unique traditions, particularly Filipinos' veneration and devotion to Jesus Christ.

Sinulog is the feast of Santo Niño or Child Jesus in Cebu, culminating in a grand parade of contingents of performers from neighboring cities and provinces.

The DOT had planned for the restoration and development of historical shrines and old churches all over the country, which serve as tourist attractions.

The proposed project will be part of preparations for 2021 commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Cebu, marking the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines.

There are around 6.6 million Catholic faithful in Asia, seen as a prospective market for faith-based tourism in the Philippines.

In South Korea alone, the Philippines' top tourist market, there are five million Catholics while there are 800,000 in Malaysia; 500,000 in Japan; 200,000 in Thailand, and 185,000 in Singapore. (FREEMAN)