Young capitalist invests P2 M for jet ski tour biz

Cebu’s fertile ground for adventure tourism prompted a young entrepreneur to shell out P2 million worth of investments for a jet ski group tour package in the province.

Alex Roa established the Jetscape Adventures Inc., to address the growing need of Cebu to provide wide options of adventure packages to the influx of tourists, taking advantage of the sea and islets surrounding Cebu, and its neighboring provinces.

Jet Ski touring is so far, the first of its kind in the Philippines, although these kind of sea and islands adventure business have been introduced in other countries, such as Thailand and Indonesia.

As a jet ski water sports rider himself, Roa found "wealth potential" out of his hobby, while Cebu is trying to capture the growing "adventure" travelers around the world.

Initially, Roa is putting together four Jet Ski units for the tour package, which cost the company P500 thousand per unit, to bring adventurers to different islands and islets to as far as Pandanon Island in Bohol, which is 70 nautical miles far from Cebu waters.

The initial four jet ski units which will be driven by the tourists themselves in convoy will be accompanied by a 10-people capacity speed boat, for the crew and individuals who are not adventurous enough to drive the jet ski.

"This is something new in Cebu and I presumed in the Philippines, wherein jet ski or wave runner units are used for commercial tourism purposes. But, I'm sure foreign travelers especially Europeans will love this," Roa said in an interview during the formal launching of the company held at Cebu Yatch Club on Mactan, Island.

Roa said the company is now linking with tour operators and hotels and resorts in Cebu to include Jet Ski Tour package to their tourists' events or itinerary offering.

"This is something that I love to do, and I see the potential of making this commercial, at the same time helping provide Cebu a unique and attractive option for tourists to explore the sea-based nature, and islands," Roa said.

A one package for instance will provide a fix destination to different islands surrounding Cebu, including meal, snorkeling activities, among others.

Because this something new in the Philippines, Roa is also expecting market interest from the domestic market, not only the foreigners.

Roa hopes to get the Return of Investments (ROI) within the next two years, as adventure tourism packages is one of the primary products being pushed by the Department of Tourism (DOT), and tourism stakeholders in the Philippines.

In a separate interview, DOT secretary Joseph Ace Durano lauded the efforts made by entrepreneurs, especially in Cebu in responding immediately to the call of providing varied "adventure" related activities for tourists.

Durano said in the United States alone, adventure tourism is a US$450 million industry, the Philippines, which has ample of sites that can be developed for this type of activity can generate good tourism revenue, while providing local residents, especially rural people to earn livelihood from (adventure) tourism revenues.

Cebu, which has gained its prestige as the center for tourism in the Philippines, should immediately take advantage of this emerging tourism revenue stream for tourism, Durano said. – Ehda M. Dagooc