Cebu tourism stakeholders expect more gains in 2023

CEBU, Philippines — Tourism players in Cebu expect to see more gains in 2023 as the ‘revenge travel’ phenomenon is showing strong momentum.

Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu general manager Michael Kempf expressed confidence in Cebu tourism’s full recovery in 2023.

While 2023 could be considered a “buildup year” for most hospitality establishments in Cebu recovering from the COVID-19 and typhoon Odette, actual arrivals and rising bookings confirmed that recovery is apparent.

For resorts and hotels which are heavily damaged by the typhoon, like Dusit Thani Mactan, there is now a massive effort to upgrade facilities as well as hire and rehire personnel.

“International guests will have higher expectations, and this brings a lot of pressure on hoteliers to meet these new travel demands,” said Kempf.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) targets to hit 4.8 million foreign arrivals by 2023.

Ray Go Manigsaca, president and chief executive officer of AppleOne Properties, the developer of Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and The Residences at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, expressed a similar outlook, particularly for Cebu’s hospitality sector.

“I am quite optimistic that we will be experiencing full recovery of our tourism industry with more foreign tourists coming in from Korea, Japan, and even China,” said Manigsaca.

Aside from Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, Manigsaca’s company also owns several hospitality facilities in Cebu such as Club Serena Resort in Moalboal Cebu, and the Diamond Suites.

“The year 2023 is a promising time for the hospitality sector and the numbers, we can see are rising,” Manigsaca added.

“More and more people become confident and comfortable to travel again,” Manigsaca added.

Moreover, Kempf said that with the apparent rebound in bookings from both domestic and foreign markets, Dusit Thani Mactan is expanding its food and beverage selections, as well as hiring more hotel executives to build up its managerial positions.

Kempf said that with different preferences of travelers under new normal, the resort also has to elevate its quality of service and offering.

Last year, the Robinsons Land Corporation-developed resort located in Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, started to rehire employees—those the resort had to let go due to the pandemic and typhoon Odette devastation.

With the improving occupancy rate and bookings for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) events, Dusit Thani is accelerating efforts to upgrade facilities and hiring and rehiring personnel.

“International guests will have higher expectations, and this brings a lot of pressure on hoteliers to meet these new travel demands,” said Kempf.

The resort is also preparing to open more food and beverage selections, such as opening another Korean restaurant within the resort, to anticipate the influx of more Koreans.

An opening of an Indian cuisine restaurant is also being considered, as well as improving menu options for its sports bar outlet and breakfast buffet and dinner spread, among others.

According to latest Department of Tourism (DOT) report, tourist arrivals in the Philippines continue to recover, with South Koreans leading the way and regaining their top spot.

DOT data showed that visitor arrivals reached 1.35 million from January 1 to March 28 this year, or 38.6 percent less than the 2.2 million who arrived in the first quarter of 2019. Of total arrivals so far this year, foreign tourists accounted for 1.24 million, while overseas Filipinos, or Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad, were 106,806.

Visitors from South Korea reached 349,180 from January 1 to March 28 this year, accounting for some 26 percent of the period’s total arrivals. They were about 33 percent less than the 519,584 who arrived in the first quarter of 2019.

Recently, DOT reported 1,400 South Koreans arriving in Cebu City, on an incentive tour from their company, Unicity, a direct-selling company on health functional foods, cosmetics, and household items, and present in over  60 markets worldwide.

Initial batches arrived in Cebu on April 9 and 13, with more arriving on the 17th and 21st this year. — (FREEMAN)