CVCB revival underway

A group of Cebu tourism advocates is bent on reviving the inactive private-led Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVCB), which has been out of action for the past five years.

Jay P. Aldeguer, the appointed CVCB president said that works to revive the organization, founded by then Waterfront Philippines Inc. president Patrick C. Gregorio, is underway.

“It [CVCB] has been inactive since 2004. The members are asking me to revive it. I haven’t met with the members yet since I was installed late last year. I’m meeting the board this week,” Aldeguer told The Freeman.

CVCB executive director Mila Espina dismissed rumors that the inactivity of the organization was brought about by the non-renewal of members, saying CVCB is still very much in existence and the board is bent on setting it back into motion.

“We haven’t called up members for renewal. We will employ new approach in quality participation and there will be general membership conference by areas. CVCB will have a new thrust,” Espina said.

The establishment of CVCB gained the strong support of the Department of Tourism and was active in organizing events such as sports activities. The group was also active in joining bids for Cebu to host major domestic and international conventions.

It also aimed at establishing links with other tourism groups around the country, aside from its linkages in the international tourism organization groups.

CVCB was formally organized in 2002. It is the first private sector-led group in the Philippines that focuses on tourism promotion. The creation of the CVCB was prompted as part of the tourism industry’s efforts to develop Cebu as a convention hub in the country.

It has over 200 corporate and individual members that committed to push the development of Cebu in the tourism front, as well as attract major domestic and international conventions.

In its bid to effectively tap international organizations to help market Cebu’s capability in attracting tourists and international conventions, CVCB was accepted as member of the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau (IACVB) in 2003.

The IACVB is a group of destination management organizations in at least 30 countries.

The inclusion of CVCB into the world grouping is expected to boost the tourism industry in Cebu and other neighboring provinces, as well as attract more foreign tourists to come to the island-province.

IACVB aims to enhance professionalism and effectiveness of destination management groups, and promotes its members to the international market.

This international destination management group represents more than 1,200 professional members of over 500 convention and visitor bureaus in 30 countries.