Cebu Infra Seen Vital to Success of Asean Tourism Congress

CEBU CITY, May 30 Asia Pulse - Cebu's infrastructure and facilities will play a major role to ensure the success of this year's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Congress from June 14 to 15 at the Cebu International Convention Centre (CICC), according to an organizer.

Dr. Nila Espina, chairperson of the Cebu Business Month (CBM) ASEAN Tourism Congress, said improvements in Cebu's infrastructure and facilities indicate an increased level of awareness among stakeholders to promote tourism.

These infrastructure and facilities include road systems, public toilets and landmarks.

Espina said Cebu has enough hotel rooms to accommodate participating tourists.

Congress organizers expect at least 200 to 250 registrants, which will be composed of local government tourism councils, travel agencies, foreign participants and the academe.

But raising awareness on the importance of tourism is not only up to developing structures. Culture of tourism seminars is also held in cooperation with the city government and academia.

"The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR), for instance, holds seminars on Philippine history and geography and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) conducts seminars with drivers as participants," Espina said.

Jenny Franco, Cebu chapter head of National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas), tourism activities such as Suroy-Suroy Sugbu (Travel Cebu) heritage tour which will run from July to August measured the readiness of the people in the countryside on tourism.

The promotion of this heritage tour increased the occupancy of city hotels.

"We started with domestic and local tourists but now, we are putting much work in inviting foreign tourists," Franco said.

Espina said in Cebu, people already have pride in their place. This is evident when they exert concerted effort in beautifying their places for tourists and selling their delicacies. NAITAS is currently distributing CD copies of tourism protocols to barangays (community villages).

Now on its third year, the congress will have international and national key players to speak in the two-day congress. Noted personalities from Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand will also be joining the event.

"We have to emphasize that Cebu is a premier tourist destination and that we have many talents and resources. Many of these are untapped," Franco said.

Topics to be discussed in the congress will revolve on situating and branding Cebu and Asian destinations in the global market.

Success stories among different Asian countries such as Bali of Indonesia and Phuket of Thailand will be shared in the congress.

On the Grand Chamber Awards, a tourism grand prize will be given to the Asian country which greatly contributed in promoting Cebu as a tourism hub and produced a sustained number of tourist arrivals.

Espina said the congress will have exhibits sponsored by local government units. Help desks will also be placed inside the plenary hall for tour agencies and airlines.

(PNA)

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