Cebu tourism stakeholders hopeful for recovery

TOURISM stakeholders in Cebu are still hard-pressed to recover from the pandemic travel restrictions and damage wrought by Typhoon “Odette.” They are hopeful, however, their recent meeting with the new tourism secretary will fast track the implementation of touristfriendly projects that can aid the industry’s rebound.

Cebu Alliance of Tour Operators Specialists (Catos) President Alice Queblatin told the Businessmirror, “Actually domestic is the only tourism we can speak of because our major markets like Japan, Korea, and China are still not coming in. So we’re still experiencing some difficulty.” She explained domestic tourists just book hotels: “They don’t really book tours. Although somehow, when they’re in the hotels, when they notice there are new activities, then once or twice, they book tours…. In truth, I cannot say that we’re already making a comeback.”

Mia Singson Leon, vice president for hotels of the Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu Inc. (HRRACI), shared that the average occupancy rate among Cebu hotels has improved and now running at “40-50 percent,” from just 20 percent, when the quarantine system was removed on February 10. “But our room rates are very low, averaging P2,000 [per night] compared to P3,000-P4,000 prior to the pandemic,” she added. She pointed out that there were a number of hotels still trying to rebuild from the damage wrought by Typhoon Odette.

From February 24 to July 10, 2022, the Mactan-cebu International Airport (MCIA) recorded 51,789 tourist arrivals, of which 39,016 were foreign tourists, according to data provided by the DOT. In 2021, MCIA reported 1.33 million passengers, with domestic passengers accounting for the bulk at 1.16 million. Prepandemic, in 2019, MCIA welcomed a total of 12.7 million passengers.

Better seaports, clean toilets needed

MEANWHILE, the stakeholders said they were surprised by the invitation of Secretary-designate Christina Garcia-frasco a meeting and her “attention to detail” regarding their concerns.

Queblatin said, among the major concerns her sector raised was the need to “improve and enhance seaports,” to better inter-island travel in the region. “You can go on a road trip across the [Cebu] province. But when you cross over [to the other islands], there’s a ferry network, but the seaports need to be improved, orderly, organized, and safer.”