Shops, restos, others join Lapu-Lapu discount drive

CEBU, Philippines – Besides hotels and beach resorts, souvenir shops, banca operators, restaurants, water sports and dive shops, and guitar factories have also indicated their intention to offer discounts to tourists in support of Lapu-Lapu City's bid to attract tourists to the island following the tourism slump as a result of the hostage-taking incident in Metro Manila.

Most of these firms are dependent on the dollars foreign tourists bring in and the decline in the number of tourist arrivals due to the hostage crisis in Metro Manila is affect-ing their business.

However, these establishments have their own ideas on how much discounts should be offered.

Fernando Alegre, owner of a well-known guitar factory in Lapu-Lapu said the discounts will depend on the quality of the guitars.

"Alkansi ta sa ginansya. I may offer a fifty percent discount on low-end guitars and ten percent on high quality guitars kay dili sad mahimo nga atong i-uniform ang discount sa tanang klase sa guitar," he said.

Gay Ceniza of Kaishu Japanese Restaurant said a promotional program usually results in a decline of profit and restaurants also have in-house promotions offering menus by half of the original price from the peak months of May to August.

Mayor Paz Radaza, on the other hand, has expressed her thanks to the different sectors in Lapu-Lapu City for supporting her campaign to improve the tourism industry.

"Kon magmalampuson kita niining atong gilusad nga kampanya, ang tanan man usab ang mabulahan," said Mayor Radaza. - Jose P. Sollano and Ria Mae Y. Booc (FREEMAN)