Travel players target interactive tourism

CEBU, Philippines — Travel specialists are taking Cebu tourism a notch higher in terms of offering, moving towards a dimension that is more than just sight-seeing.

This is the direction that Cebu will stamp in its brand, where interactive tourism would take the spotlight in Cebu’s attractions, said Cebu Association of Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS) president Alice Queblatin.

Serving the different bunch of tourists — young, active, adventure-seekers, Queblatin said the existing destinations will be given life, by involving visitors of tourists interactively.

In heritage destinations for instance, Queblatin said "we will make histories alive." This is through holding regular re-enactment plays in a specified time.

Culture will also be presented in such a way a visitor could participate, and experience the act of it. In places outside churches for example, tourists will be invited to stop and experience how to make candles, and its uses and how it is being used in local tradition.

"It’s no longer sightseeing. We move deeper to experiential tourism for them to understand the culture," said Queblatin.

Tourists across nationalities, even the domestic travelers are now demanding for much more experiential travels, and action, fun are more important than a mere sight seeing.

According to Queblatin, majority of tourists now pick the more adventurous destinations. Kawasan Falls in Badian, swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob, Bohol's unique come-on in culture and eco-tourism are just few of the most popular packages.

Shopping tourism will also be presented in much deeper fashion, where tourists will not just feast their eyes on displays, but travel specialists are moving to bringing them to the where the products are being manufactured.

The popularity of DIY (do-it-yourself) concepts gave rise to the shift of how tour packages are being presented now. This is mostly applied in food products, as well as souvenir items.

Most travelers, especially foreigners make travel vacations of not less than four days. For first timers, they won’t complain for a brief sightseeing, but for travelers who have been to Cebu more than once, sightseeing could become boring and monotonous activity for them.

Making Cebu a much more exciting destination, even for those who have visited here for countless times, will make Cebu the world's tourism sensation in due time, Queblatin concluded. (FREEMAN)