Tourism commission to focus on Cebu heritage sites

CEBU, Philippines - Acting on the recommendation of the United States Agency for International Development, the Cebu City Tourism Commission is now drawing plans to fix and improve the city's tourism sites, also in preparation for next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

"CCTC is focusing on developing its heritage sites as its primary attraction based on the recommendation of the DOT/USAID study led by former tourism secretary Narzalina Lim.  The secondary priority is development of the natural sites on the hilly land of Cebu City to offer eco-adventure experiences including river trekking, camping, spelunking, mountain biking, etc.,” CCTC chairperson Tetta Baad said.

According to Baad, this move is to enhance its appeal to the foreign tourists and increase its 38 percent share of the market.

The shopping and entertainment components of the city are excellent and expanding at a fast pace with Ayala and SM both adding more facilities.

The tourism assessment team of the USAID has recommended some factors that will endanger Cebu's appeal to tourists, if not given immediate attention.

Narzalina Lim, USAID project head, and president of Asia pacific Project Inc., revealed that dilapidated structures in the heritage sites in Cebu; 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 tourism pitfalls that Cebu should focus on.

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.

"For its part, the Cebu City government through Mayor Mike Rama is undertaking projects (road widening, flood control, traffic management, peace and order initiatives, etc.) that include development of new tourist offerings such as the Public Market in cooperation with the vendors cooperative (Freedom Park, the former Warwicks barracks and Carbon market now has a parking area for tourist buses), additional parks and heritage museums.  The CCTC is coordinating with the various tourism players to orchestrate and synchronize projects for maximum results," added Baad.

CCTC commissioner Georgia Felice “Jaja” Chiongbian-Rama said in an interview yesterday, that the commission is also doubling its effort to implement the tourism development programs in preparation for the upcoming APEC event.

According to Rama, CCTC is one with the private sector's call to make Cebu a great showcase for tourism during APEC Summit.

Hotel, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu  president Cenelyn Manguilimotan said earlier that Cebu should take advantage of the opportunities that will be ushered in by the APEC event.

"This is Cebu's opportunity again to shine in the international arena. We cannot afford not to under-prepare. I am confident that the APEC COC and the rest of private stakeholders will do everything we can to make the APEC summit here a resounding success," Manguilimotan said. (FREEMAN)