EDITORIAL - Tourist haven

In a move aimed at further boosting the country’s tourism industry, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 during her visit to Cebu last week.

The new law outlines a national policy for tourism as an engine for economic growth. It was signed days after the release of a Department of Tourism data showing that Cebu garnered the top spot of the list of 14 major tourist destinations in the country in the first four months of the year.

 According to the DOT record, tourist arrivals in Cebu reached 422,239 in the first quarter of 2009. The figure was three percent higher than the number recorded in the same period last year.  

Other top tourist destinations in the country this year include Boracay, Davao City, Zambales, Camarines Sur and Bohol. These places are known for their world-class resorts that attract thousands of local and foreign tourists every year.

 With the enactment of the National Tourism Policy Act, it is seen that Cebu would be well positioned to draw millions of foreign and local tourists in the future. The province has always been the favorite destination of tourists given its rich and diverse attractions.

It helps that Cebu’s modern infrastructure greatly contributed to its accessibility. With an international airport and a large seaport hosting dozens of domestic trips daily, Cebu has become a huge magnet of tourists.

Of course promotion also counts. Cebu’s endorsement before the world as a top tourist haven in the country fared well as it is now fast catching up with Bali in Indonesia and Chiang Mai in Thailand in the race for the best tourist destination in Southeast Asia.

However, there is one problem that tourism authorities should address. It has been noted that there is a shortage of hotel rooms in Cebu despite the fact that many hotels have been sprouting around the metro of late.

Tourists are starting to find Cebu a worthy place to visit. But what if they are forced to dwell in the streets for lack of accommodations?