Shipping  sector sees rosy 2023

CEBU, Philippines —  The domestic shipping industry is seeing brighter prospects for 2023 after capping off a vibrant season in 2022.

Jose Emery Roble, president and chief executive officer of Roble Shipping Inc., said they felt the improving economic activities following the eased of travel restrictions, particularly in Cebu.

Roble said though that it is still different compared to the pre-pandemic season with low fuel prices and no inflation.

According to the Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA), the fuel crisis is making it more difficult for the domestic shipping industry to reach pre-pandemic cargo volumes this year.

“Pero at least ni-improve nga medyo ang mga tawo nadasig nga gustong mouli nga makigkita, makighimamat sa ila dugay na nga wala makita nga pamilya, paryente, enjoy sad sa holiday season,” said Roble, also one of the members of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association.

He said that public consumption and income are still way below the pre-pandemic level.

On their part, Roble said some of their employees have just returned to work from forced leave during the height of the pandemic.

They are hoping that 2023 will be free from any disturbance such as new variant of the coronavirus disease and no more travel restrictions, especially that local and foreign tourists have started going to other places.

More Tourists

In an earlier report, Undersecretary Shalimar Tamano, concurrent director of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7), said he saw an upward trend in the number of tourist arrivals in Cebu, with some 1.8 million in the first nine months of 2022.

The figure is up 175.32 percent from the 669,243 tourists during the same period in 2021.

The DOT-7 recorded 317,761 foreign tourist arrivals, an increase of 661.58 percent while it registered 1.5 million local tourists, an increase of more than 142 percent as against the same period of 2021.

The record showed that South Koreans remain to be Cebu’s top visitors with arrivals, followed by Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Britons, Germans, Canadians, Singaporeans, and the Emiratis.

In Central Visayas, the DOT recorded 2.2 million tourists in 2022, an increase of 159.61 percent from the 860,647 arrivals in 2021. Of the number, local tourists accounted to 1.9 million while foreigners at 334,668.

During their company’s Christmas party last Thursday, Roble thanked that the company and their staff survived the pandemic.

“The company survived, lisud kaayo, tanan naglisud, at least ni-survive ta, karon nibalik ang competition,” he said.

He urged his staff to extend humble services to clients as the management tried their best to accommodate customers.

“I-improve lang ang services sa crew, okey na ang mga barko. We are very competitive company to serve clients,” Roble added.  – JMD (FREEMAN)