Cebu, Phuket eye sisterhood pact

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province would be adding Phuket Province in Thailand to its growing number of international sister-provinces.

Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Tull Traisorat and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia planned a sisterhood agreement during the former’s courtesy visit at the Capitol on Thursday, August 1.

Traisorat said that his office will lobby this eyed partnership to realize the initiative of both provinces especially that Cebu and Phuket are both known tourism destinations.

If plans will work accordingly, tourism, economy, education are the significant fields that are expected to be covered in this potential sisterhood agreement.

In a report by Sugbo News, Capitol’s official media arm, the province hopes to attract more Thai tourists especially with the anticipated launching of a direct flight route from Cebu to Phuket and vice versa later this year.

This direct flight connection is projected to boost Cebu’s economy by increasing tourist inflow and promoting local businesses. Aside from the economic and tourism benefits, the agreement will also include initiatives to foster educational exchanges.

The Province of Cebu, as reported, will assist Thailand by facilitating connections with local schools, allowing Thai students to enroll in English proficiency programs in Cebu.

Garcia considers sisterhood agreements as important tools for promoting the province to the international markets. As reported, this is one of her ways of providing Cebuanos with opportunities and to get better lives.

Last June, Garcia visited the Province of Saint Petersburg in Russia and signed the renewal of sisterhood ties with Governor Alexander Beglov at the headquarters of Saint Petersburg City Administration in Smolny Institute.

Currently, the Province of Cebu has 12 international sister partners. These include Busan Metropolitan Government and Gangwon Province in South Korea, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Provinces of Guangdong and Fujian in China.

Other sister partners of the province are Guam, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Barcelona Provincial Council in Spain, and the Regional Government of Valparaiso in Chile, among others.  (CEBU NEWS)