DOT7 urges gov’t units, private sector to improve local tourism, new products

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Department of Tourism (DOT7) regional director Shalimar Tamano urged all government agencies and the private sector to strengthen local tourism and improve on tourism products as it is the key for sustainability in the tourism industry in the country.

Tamano, in his message during the opening of the Cebu Travel Catalogue International 2022 exhibit at the Ayala Center Mall on June 10 said that in 2019 Central Visayas logged in 4.5 million foreign tourists’ arrival with more than three million of these tourists came to Cebu.

“This is the first time for Cebu to have this highest number of foreign tourists’ arrival and with the health protocols easing out in many foreign countries and locally, we expect more foreign tourists here in Cebu and in Central Visayas,” Tamano said.

He added that Filipinos, especially Cebuanos are starting to travel domestically and abroad hence, there is an urgent need to improve on domestic travels, improve, develop various local tourism sites and products and strengthen the promotions and marketing of these products.

According to Tamano, domestic tourism continues to be the key driver in the recovery and growth of the tourism industry in the region as well as in the whole country.  He encouraged the private sector and the local government units to support innovative tourism products that the DOT7 started to develop even during the pandemic.

He mentioned the DIVE7 program which DOT7 launched in April to June 2021 with a series of dive events held top dive destinations in the region that included Moalboal, Panglao, Malapascua, Dauin and Lapulapu City and a clean-up activity in Siquijor.

Another tourism product that is becoming popular is the culinary and farm tourism adventure.  It is gaining grounds here in Central Visayas as locals develop the highlands for open dining and farm adventures with flower gardens to fruit picking and other agri-related farm tours.

The DOT7 in collaboration with the religious sector and some church parishes in the region also developed the Pilgrimage Tour that promotes the rich culture and heritage of the Filipino Christian traditions and the century-old churches all over Central Visayas.

Tamano also noted that Cebu is now becoming a popular destination for the English as Second Language (ESL) learning center in the region.  There is a huge delegation from Korea, Japan, China and the rest of northeast Asia that come to Cebu for ESL.

“Just last month there were 50 Japanese students arrived in Cebu for ESL learning that signals the return of face to face ESL classes here.  The diving market is another product that is gaining momentum now, and a lot of divers are already coming in different diving sites in the region,” Tamano revealed.

He added that the Cebu Travel Catalogue International 2022 provides the platform for tourism industry players including stakeholders and local government units to promote and market their destinations, products and services.

This augurs well for the promotions of travels and tours, domestically and abroad and hopefully, ignite to revitalize the tourism market in Cebu and Central Visayas with new tourism circuits and products developed by DOT7 in farm/culinary and faith/pilgrimage tourism, Tamano said. (Photos: DOT7)