Tourism rehab plan in the works

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s tourism prime movers and the local government units are soon to implement a master plan to rebuild the province’s tourism spots affected by typhoon Yolanda, deemed as the strongest typhoon in the world this year.

The Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) will be working with Cebu Association of Tour Operators (CATO), National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), airline operators, will be working closely with the Department of tourism (DOT), Cebu Provincial government, and tourism players in the islands of Bantayan, Malapascua, and Camotes, in planning an immediate masterplan for rehabilitation of these tourism hotspots.

In a press conference, HRRAC president Cenelyn Manguilimotan announced that an immediate rebuilding program will implemented in Cebu, to sustain the province’s strength in the tourism sector in the country.

Prior to the "Yolanda" disaster, HRRAC and other tourism players already had initial plans holding a special event to encourage domestic travel in Cebu-Bohol destinations.

Now that the tourism destination frontliners in Cebu are badly affected by the disaster, a more concerted rebuilding effort will be done simultaneously with giving relief goods to the affected areas in Cebu.   

"We need to show the world that we are still 'standing,' and the typhoon may have wiped out most of the resorts and tourism facilities on the islands, it does not mean we stop there," she said.

Realistically, people on these islands whose livelihood largely depend on tourism should be given hope that tourism is still on, despite the ruined infrastructure.

Even before the resorts on these islands can rebuild their facilities, tourism business should go on, capitalizing on other strategies such as sports tourism, overnight camping on the beach, and wellness attraction, among others.

A concrete program will be introduced shortly, she said as soon as stakeholders will be able to convene on the final re-packing, rebuilding and rehabilitation of these areas.

On the other hand, a Mega Tourism event will be held by the end of this month or early December, wherein players will be offering attractive rates and packages to reignite interest in visiting the Cebu-Bohol attractions.

Immediate action should be done, she added in order for Cebu and Bohol to sustain its prestige as the top island destinations in the world.

Malapascua is the haven of international divers, Bantayan island on the other hand is known as Cebu's version of Boracay but with its "rural" touch intact, while the island of Camotes had been regarded as an "iconic" island of the province. /JOB (FREEMAN)