Cebu hotels, resorts brace for Indian tourists influx

CEBU, Philippines - While tourism bookings in Cebu is on a high due to the Sinulog Festival and the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), the hospitality and travel industry players are also preparing to accommodate the growing Indian visitors to Cebu.

Hotel, Resorts, and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Julie Najar said aside from Australia and some parts of Europe, the Japanese and the Chinese markets, Cebu is getting more interested to explore a good connection with the fast growing Indian visitors to Cebu.

The first quarter of this year is dominated by Sinulog-related bookings and IEC visitors, but apart from that, but what is seen to have sustaining interest for Cebu is the Indian market.

 Najar said the Indian market used to be Cebu’s major market for weddings, but lately the interest of Indians has expanded to other attractions other than wedding and honeymoon.

 Cebu has to prepare for this new market. "Japan is no longer new to us, so with Australia, some Europeans and Chinese.”

 In a separate interview with Cebu Association of Travel Agencies (CATO) past president Alice Queblatin, she said that the new favorite itineraries of Indian nationals now include adventure and eco-tourism sites.

"Oslob whale shark watching, different waterfalls, caves, and other nature tripping, including extreme sports, are the top pick among Indian travelers," said Queblatin.

Najar added that the influx of Indian tourists to Cebu is a welcome surprise for industry stakeholders, thus intensive efforts are being done individually, or as an organization to understand more on the traveling psyche of Indian roamers.

  According to Najar, Indians that are coming to Cebu are the globetrotters, who are high spenders, and would often stay for at least three nights to two weeks for vacation.

 Based on national figures, as many as 52,000 tourists arrived in Philippines from India in 2013. And target for 2015 is close to 70,000 (tourists).  (FREEMAN)