DOT launches “Bangon Tours” to bring back tourists to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Tourism is now coming up with a massive information drive to attract more tourists to come after Cebu and other parts of the Visayas were struck by earthquake and typhoon.

DOT-7 Regional Director Rowena Montecillo said that due to these natural calamities, several bookings in resorts and hotels were cancelled.

"They (would-be tourists) think that Tacloban City is the Philippines. That is why, hotel and resorts bookings were cancelled. Our campaign nga dili lang cancellation but postponement lang unta," said Montecillo during the press briefing yesterday.

DOT's "Bangon Tours" was created in order for foreign tourists and local tourists to come to the country, since there are still beautiful tourists spots in Central Visayas and in the entire country as well.

The 16 places featured under the "Bangon Tours" includes Cebu, Ilocos, Tuguegarao, Baguio, Batangas-Puerto Galera, Manila-Tagaytay, Puerto Princesa, Baler, Bicol, Davao, Bohol, Iloilo, Boracay, Siargao, Cagayan de Oro-Camiguin and Batanes.

"Dinhi lang sa Cebu, we still have beautiful resorts and beaches in Mactan," said Montecillo.

DOT-7 has a target of 3.03 million tourists arrivals this year and from January to August alone, there were already 2.2 tourists arrived in Central Visayas.

Montecillo added that the top five nationalities who arrived in Central Visayas were Koreans, Japanese, Americans, Taiwanese and Chinese.

"However, we are not now concerned sa numbers. Ang amo gyud is to communicate well to other countries that we still have other tourists spots despite of the earthquake and the typhoon," Montecillo added. (FREEMAN)