Rosy tourism prospects after ‘8th best island’ tag

CEBU, Philippines — As Cebu was recently recognized as the eighth best island in the world by New York travel magazine Travel+Leisure in its 2018 ranking, the tourism industry couldn't be more positive about the sector's growth prospects in the coming days.

The Department of Tourism remains bullish Cebu will continue to attract more tourists this year and next.

"We expect more (visitors) this year," DOT regional director Shalimar Tamano told The FREEMAN.

Tourism stakeholders in the region, he said, are "delighted" although the industry had expected Cebu to be among the world's best islands.

"(This means) Cebuanos hard work (is) bearing fruit," Tamano noted.

"For context, Cebu alone got more than two million foreign visitors in 2017," the tourism official said, noting the province is poised to welcome more visitors this year.

The opening of Mactan-Cebu International Airport's Terminal 2 further raises the positive prospects that Cebu will attract more foreign tourists with the expected increase in international flights to and from Cebu.

Earlier, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Steven Yu had said the new passenger terminal will further build up Cebu's attractiveness to foreign tourists.

"And this will lead to a surge in tourism receipts," he said.

Last year, Cebu remained the top travel hub in Central Visayas whose tourist arrivals in 2017 hit approximately 6.9 million.

The 2017 tourist count surpassed the region's 6.3-million target for the said year and posted a 17.13 percent growth from 2016.

The active movement of the Filipinos travelling to different destinations in the Philippines has benefited Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas region, as domestic travelers dominate the arrival volume of 58.33 percent with 4 million visiting the four provinces in the region, namely Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor

The region's top tourism market is still Korea, with the highest number of tourist population, noted to be 895,776 in total; followed by China with a volume of 429,306 and has a highest growth rate among the top ten markets; Japan with 408,566; and USA with 219,796.

Among the major tourist hubs in Central Visayas is Cebu City, which was noted to rake in majority of the visitor arrivals.

DOT-7 also noted the tourist influx can be attributed to the increase of direct international commercial and chartered flights to Cebu from other countries.

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City, Panglao, Dumaguete City and Tagbilaran City also recorded a competitive number of tourist arrivals.

Meanwhile, joining Cebu in Travel+Leisure's 2018 best islands list is Palawan which landed on the sixth spot.

Cebu missed the ranking in 2017 but ranked sixth in 2016.  This year, Cebu registered a score of 89.1 while Palawan registered a score of 90.04

According to Rebecca Ascher-Walsh in an article published on July 10, “readers rated the islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.” (FREEMAN)