Cebu tourism program unveiled at Vis-Min travel fair

The Visayas Mindanao Travel and Lifestyle Show 2006, which is now in its second year, was held recently at the Trade Hall of SM City Cebu.

The much-awaited annual event opened with the Mandaue School of the Arts Children’s Choir rendering several heartwarming numbers and the dazzling, upbeat performance of the Synkronz and Knapsacks Dance Troupes.

Committed and dedicated Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, chairperson of the Cebu Tourism Commission and Cebu Vice Mayor Michael Rama, and the always-ready-to-assist Department of Tourism regional director Dawnie Roa were the guests of honor. They encouraged the various stakeholders in the world of travel and tourism to promote their respective islands and proudly showcase the best of what they have to offer.

The formal unveiling of the "Suroy-Suroy Sugbo" logo, which is a province-wide tourism development initiated by Governor Garcia, shortly followed.

The successful two-day show had over 130 exhibitors from the different sectors of the industry, composed of airlines that included the flag carrier Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Lufthansa Airways, Continental Airlines, and Qatar Airways, shipping lines, like Super Ferry and Princess Cruises, hotels, like Marco Polo in Davao and InterContinental, Manila, and Tambuli, Alegre and Camiguin Highland resorts, tour operators and travel agencies, such as Cebu Fortune Travel, Travel Vision, Blue Horizon, Grand Hope, and even the Enchanted Kingdom, the country’s only world-class theme park located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The visitors and would-be travelers had the opportunity to explore possible local destinations, such as Bohol, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Pangasinan, the Cordilleras, and Ilocos. Likewise, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Malaysian Tourism and Promotion Board, the Hong Kong and Singapore Tourism boards, and the Guam Visitors Bureau had their own booths that highlighted the attractive features of their countries and the cultures of their people.

Marget Villarica of Destination Specialist chaired the event, which was very successful. She was ably assisted by Cecile Sa a, president of Cebu Travel and Tour Association; Alice Queblatin, president of the Cebu Association of Tour Operators; and Global Link Marketing headed by Patrick Tan.