Global hotel operators to boost foreign arrivals

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu could be seeing more international visitors looking ahead as more global hotel brands are set to operate in the island and most especially with its new airport terminal.

In its latest market update, property consultant Santos Knight Frank noted the Terminal 2 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport is poised to sustain Cebu’s growth momentum particularly in the tourism industry.

Cebu’s international visitor arrivals grew by 14 percent in 2017.

Of the 4.9 million visitors who arrived last year, 54 percent were foreign guests.

South Korea led the list of top sources of tourists, comprising 41.2 percent of foreign arrivals, followed by Japan (20.1 percent) and China (10.5 percent).

Tourists from China, in particular, are projected to further increase with the growing interest from the Chinese market to visit Cebu.

To support the influx of tourists, Santos Knight Frank said Cebu developers have partnered with international hotel operators to bring in leading brands such as Sheraton with AppleOne Mactan; Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu with Robinsons Land Corp; Dusit Princess Cebu with Grand Land Inc; and Citadines Cebu City and lyf Cebu City with Cebu Landmasters.

Homegrown hotel brands such as Seda of Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corp and Aruga of Rockwell are also in the pipeline, the consultancy firm said.

A rising gaming destination, Metro Cebu will also soon see integrated resort projects

These include the Emerald Resort and Casino of Udenna Development Corp. in Lapu-Lapu City, Pan-Asia Millennium Hotel and Resort’s Inc's casino resort in Mandaue City and the Gokongwei-owned Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc’s Isla dela Victoria in Cebu’s South Road Properties which will generate more arrivals in Cebu.        

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.