“Build tourism circuits”

CEBU, Philippines — “Build tourism circuits,” the Department of Tourism (DOT) urged local government leaders in Cebu.

This was the call made by DOT undersecretary Arturo P. Boncato Jr., yesterday during the “Tourism Innovation Forum” as part of the Cebu Business Month (CBM 2019) events.

Boncato emphasized the need for Cebu to introduce and identify more tourism circuits, such as the natural circuit formed in southern Cebu destinations, where culture, heritage and eco-tourism is packaged as one complete treat for tourists.

Tourism Circuits consist of two or more tourism attraction sites located closely enough that they can be grouped together for development and/or marketing purposes (from the National Tourism Development Plan of the Philippines).

“Cebu can develop a lot of tourism circuits like shopping, food, and a lot more,” Boncato said but this suggestion can only be realized if local leaders are proactive in pushing the tourism attractions in their respective localities.

Cebu’s potential to maximize tourism growth lies in the hands of LGU leaders, Boncato said.

He urged LGUs to craft rules and programs geared to develop and promote tourism, with emphasis on introducing ordinances that tightly compels tourists and tourism facilities alike to embrace the culture of sustainable tourism.

LGUs should take the leadership in maximizing the potential of tourism to provide employment to their constituents, as well as increase the revenue of the destination.

Tourism circuits help highlight the inter-relationships and common tourism opportunities among the cities and municipalities that are part of the same destination.

The tourism circuit also helps identify how the LGUs in a destination are linked together as a tourism value chain.

While urging Cebu to identify or enhance its tourism circuits within the province, Boncato also reminded stakeholders on the pitfalls of “over-tourism.”

Promoting tourism is good but it has to be done consciously with right and sustainable programs.