Tourists diverting trips to any part of PH is still good news

Korean tourists, in this February 2018 photo, wait at the Cebu port to board the ship to take them to their destination in the region.
CDN FILE PHOTO

DOT-7: CEBU, cv VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED

Even if tourists divert their trips from Luzon to Cebu or to other parts of the country, that is still good news as long as they go to areas within the country.

Director Shalimar Tamano of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) said this amid reports that tourists bound for Luzon had diverted their trips to Cebu because of the floods that recently hit the northern part of the country.

Tamano and those in the tourism industry said they would welcome tourists visiting the province and the rest of the region regardless of their reasons for visiting Cebu or Central Visayas.

“We haven’t monitored big groups diverting trips to Cebu due to recent floods in Luzon. But as we have reiterated, safety is important. Whatever is needed to ensure that their travels in the Philippines are safe and secure, then we welcome them here in our region,” said Tamano.

Last month and earlier this month, several parts of the Luzon were submerged in floods following heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, tropical depressions and tropical storms.

State weather bureau Pagasa has recently advised residents in Luzon and Western Visayas to brace for more monsoon rains in the coming days and weeks due still to the southwest monsoon being worsened by a low pressure area.

But while these areas may lose some tourists who want to get away from the heavy rains, the DOT-7 sees it as an opportunity for other areas to reel in these tourists.

“There are many ways to enjoy the Philippines and our country has diverse tourist attractions that can satisfy any traveler. What’s important is they are not diverting their travels to another country but still in the Philippines,” Tamano said.

Local tour operators are also ready to welcome these tourists if they do come to Cebu.

According to Cebu Association of Tour Operation Specialists (CATOS) President Alice Queblatin, they have not yet noticed arrivals in Cebu due to this reason recently.

“But if it does happen, Cebu is always happy to welcome them. We just hope that they will get the accommodations they prefer,” she said.

As of now, Queblatin said most of the beach resorts in Mactan Island have been taken already by Korean, Japanese and Chinese tourists.

Recently, a lot of tourists from South Korea, Japan, and Chinese have been having vacations in tropical areas like the Philippines, specifically Cebu as it is currently the middle of summer in their countries and temperatures have been so high.