DOT: Four Cebu towns emerge as tourist faves

CEBU, Philippines — The towns of Moalboal, Oslob, San Remigio, Daanbantayan and Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island, are the top favorite destinations of foreign tourists visiting Cebu in the first four months of this year.

The latest record from the Department of Tourism (DOT-7) showed that these destinations are the ones most frequented by foreigners, including expectedly the major cities like Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, as well as the town of Cordova, on Mactan Moalboal is known as the jump-off point for scuba diving enthusiasts. It hosts a number of water sports related shops, as well as good resort facilities.

Oslob is the popular stop-over not only for foreign tourists, but for domestic travelers as well, being the sanctuary of giant whale sharks.

Bantayan Island in the northern tip of Cebu, where the town of Sta. Fe is located has always been the all-time favorite vacation hang-out for foreigners. Some have even found their Filipina love interests and eventually made the island as their second home.

Despite these top tourist destinations, arrivals to Central Visayas dropped by 3.02 percent in the first four months of 2017.

Supposedly, the first five months of the year is one of the peak seasons for travel to the region. This year however, the industry has been challenged with a series of peace and order interventions, which led to  travel advisories issued by foreign countries due to threats of terrorism, such as the Abu Sayyaf encounter in Bohol.

In Cebu, the  eco-tourism related destinations are always the top choice among tourists, foreign and local alike, said Cebu Association of Tour Operations Specialists (CATOs) president Alice Queblatin.

Towns like Boljoon, Oslob, Samboan and Santander, otherwise known as BOSS cluster has gained popularity among local and foreign tourists, as eco-tourism destinations are taking the center-stage in the travel itineraries.

Aside from these four popular towns in the southern stretch of Cebu, destinations with inviting beaches are also expected to gain strong interest from tourists,

Bantayan Island will always expect more tourists — local and foreign, primarily for its rustic unspoiled and rustic beach and island attractions. (FREEMAN)