Nearly 3,000 participants of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 competition prepare to tackle the swim leg of the competition in a resort in Lapu-Lapu City during last year’s tourney..
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LOCAL tourism stakeholders have found diverse products to develop and promote the sector and hopefully sustain the capability to bring in more tourists to Cebu.
Aside from the province being developed as an eco-tourism destination, it is also being developed as a sports tourism destination.
Cebu has gained the reputation of being the premier destination in the country for sports tourism, said Princess Gallura, Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) general manager, during the recently held Cebu Tourism Summit.
Gallura cited Cebu’s successful hosting of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines and the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship in 2016.
SEI is the company established by businessman Wilfred Steven Uytengsu in 2008, which staged the half Ironman event in the Philippines.
The Ironman competitions in Cebu last year earned a total revenue of P645 million, boosting tourism performance in Cebu, said Gallura in a recently held Cebu Tourism Summit.
“On the average, each participant spend 3,000 dollars in Cebu in their three-day stay here in Cebu… that spending includes venue, hotel, services, food,” said Gallura.
Gallura said 6,000 rooms are needed during the three-day event.
Cebu’s infrastructure – international airport, five-star hotels and road network –makes it a viable venue for Ironman events. It has a scalable facility for the three main components of the race: swim, bike and run.
Cebu’s lechon and mangoes are in demand during the race. Its people are warm and supportive aside from the fact that the island has a rich culture and heritage narrative.
The Cebu race is also dubbed as the “Crown Jewel of Asia” and has attracted pro-athletes and world-renowned personalities.
The first half Ironman event was held in 2009 and was held for three years (until 2011) in Camarines Sur before it was moved to Cebu in 2012.
“Cebu offers an environment conducive for a half-marathon event. The 70.3 race is half the distance of the full Ironman race. We are doing this to make it achievable to most people. We want to create a community with people who are successful and happy. Races like this drive participants in terms of numbers and boost tourism,” Gallura said.