USAID team identifies Cebu’s tourism pitfalls

CEBU, Philippines - Dilapidated heritage structures and lack of proper toilet infrastructure are only two of the identified tourism pitfalls that Cebu needs to address.

A tourism assessment team from the US Agency for International Aid has identified concerns that would endanger Cebu’s tourism appeal, if not given immediate attention.

USAID project head Narzalina Lim, who is also the president of Asia Pacific Project Inc., revealed that Cebu’s heritage sites have dilapidated structures, lack of good toilet infrastructures and supporting services in tourists' destination stops; weak interpretative information that tells stories in a heritage destination or historical site; absence of site guides at Fort San Pedro; limited choices of merchandizing are just few of the issues Cebu should focus on.

Lim said this is just a preliminary result of the team's assessment, while the group still has to finish its research and competitiveness study for Cebu province in the next few months.

Lim emphasized the "dirty toilets" in most (if not all) quick stop stations in traveling province-wide. Now, that ASEAN is here, Cebu should improve its tourism facilities including the improvement of toilets which she described as "unpresentable".

Management of the different heritage sites in Cebu should also be strengthened and that a body should be created to focus on the maintenance of the monuments and make the destination clean, including the maintenance of facilities like toilets, availability of cafes, coffee shops, good shopping outlet, among others.

Choices of merchandize for tourists should also be upgraded and make it wider. Lim mentioned the success of Cebu-based Island Souvenirs Inc. as the leader of souvenir retail in the Philippines, but Cebu should also expand the choices to give tourists options and also increase the tourism receipts, after-all shopping is always part of a tourist’s budget.

"The quality of handicraft and souvenirs should be improved," Lim said.

"How can we increase receipts if the tourists have nothing "attractive" to buy," she added.

Lim also mentioned the improvement needed in high potential Olango Island in Mactan, to make it a world-class eco-tourism destination.

A team composed of six is currently inspecting Cebu's level of competitiveness in tourism, traveling to the usual itinerary circuit used by the tour operators.

According to Lim, though these issues are just very basic, these could give tremendous downward effects if remains not addressed.