Cebu gaining ground among Mideast tourists

CEBU, Philippines — Aside from India, Cebu is now starting to gain interest from the wide Middle Eastern market, as wedding and leisure destination.

Tour operators in Cebu noted the increasing number of specialty tours from Middle Eastern countries like Israel, Turkey, among others for wedding ceremonies, experiential and leisure tours, and also increasing bookings for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibits (MICE) related events, reported Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS) president Alice Queblatin.

In fact, Israeli travel agents have already made its initial ocular visits in Cebu and touching base with local tour operators here to respond to the strong interest of Israeli nationals to explore Cebu, Queblatin said.

Cebu has been one of the favorite destinations for luxurious Indian weddings for some time. This niche, Queblatin said, has expanded and gain interest from other non-Christian countries like Israel.

Queblatin said while Cebu is ready to accommodate specialty tours like weddings, direct access is seen to be the hindrance of exploiting this emerging market.

“Direct access from Cebu to Israel is very important. While a lot of us are doing pilgrimage tours to Israel, people from Israel are also looking at Cebu as their destination. We need direct flight,” Queblatin said explaining that if these tourists are transported via Manila “it is difficult. They like to travel via Saudi air space.”

Meanwhile, Turkish travel agents have also made initial tours to Cebu in the last few months, to see interesting activities and destinations to lure tourists from Turkey to experience Cebu, she said.

Queblatin added that the Cebu tourism stakeholders are also working closely with authorities, including the Mactan Cebu Airport operator GMR Megawide to convince airlines to open up routes in these countries. (FREEMAN)