DOT partners with 18 foreign cruise lines

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Tourism recently announced its partnership with 18 international cruise lines to realize its plan of promoting the country's potential in the cruise industry.

DOT has sealed a deal with Cruise Lines International Association in a partnership that is foreseen to initially draw in 20,000 foreign tourists to Philippine shores.

In a statement, DOT secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., said that along with CLUA, they have already inspected international ports in the country including Cebu, Manila, Puerto Princesa, Caticlan, and Subic.

"These five ports will play a major role in harnessing infrastructure investment that would address the increasing demand for cruise tourism in the country and the development of waterfront activities," said Jimenez.

While the Philippine tourism department is making every effort to sell the country to be part of the routes of international cruise liners, local tour and travel operators sector reiterated its demand to fix port terminals first, and establish good sea-based transportation infrastructure to promote the thousands of enchanting islands in the country.

Cebu Association of Travel Operators  past president Alice Queblatin reiterated the call to concerned government agencies to immediately respond to the market's growth pathway, if it were to make tourism as one of the country's wealth producing industries.

She said both local and foreign tourists are now demanding to explore the different islands and islets in the country. In Cebu for instance, island destinations like Bantayan Island, Camotes, Malapascua, as well as those in neighboring provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor lack global standard sea-based transportation access.

According to Queblatin, before the country could invite the big international cruises, it has to fix first the support infrastructure like good port terminals, and availability of reliable sea-based transportation that could bring tourists to different island and islets that are worth promoting for.

"We don't see concrete plans to build [or improve] better ferries and passenger terminals. We want better connectivity by sea," Queblatin emphasized adding that while the country is already in the right move to build better airports, sea-based transportation infrastructure should also be given equal attention, considering that not all attractive destinations are accessible by air.

At present, Queblatin said the Philippines is "not yet ready" to invite international cruise ships, although the Philippines has great potential as one of the target destinations for this type of travel option in Asia.

Queblatin mentioned that there was one international cruise ship that tried to enter the Philippines, and made a stop at one of the islands in the Visayas, but because of the lack of good terminals and ports, it was only a "one-shot-deal."

Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya also gave their support saying they will consider it their responsibility to ensure their maritime agencies have sufficient transportation infrastructure and efficient processes to support this growing industry. (FREEMAN)