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 tourist-friendly 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. Pre-pandemic, 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 for 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.”
They also raised the possible establishment of “tourism hubs in places that are important during our land trips.” These hubs should have clean toilets, ample parking space, a cafe where guests can eat or rest, buy pasalubong or other souvenirs, and an information counter of the town being visited. All stakeholders suggested Carcar City and Moalboal as among the places, where these pitstops could be established.
They also urged the presence of “dedicated tourist police,” especially outside Cebu City.
Review star-rating system
For HRRACI, Leon said, “We asked for a review of the hotel star-rating [system of the DOT]. We feel that the current criteria is outdated, from 10 years ago, and thus, should be reviewed so we can be at par with current international standards.”
For instance, to be considered a luxury hotel or resort, “do we really need a salon in the property?” Also, in terms of room sizes, in Singapore and Japan, “room sizes are smaller but with elegant finish and with complete and modern facilities, they can be four or five star,” she pointed out.
Stakeholders also urged that Cebu be “promoted more” in overseas tourism trade fairs and travel markets.
In a Facebook post, the DOT said stakeholders called for “improved take-off areas for island-hopping and more tourist-friendly arrival and departure protocols.”
Other Cebu groups which attended the meeting with the new DOT chief last July 8 were: Cebu Travel and Tours Association, Tour Operators Unite in Region 7, Japanese Association of Travel Industries Cebu Inc., Cebu Association of Tour Guides, Federation of Tourist Transport Operators in Cebu Inc., and the Network of Independent Travel Agencies-Cebu. (See, “Frasco to go on ‘listening tour’ of the PHL,” in the BusinessMirror, July 5, 2022.)