Cebu Capitol eyes bigger, better travel fair

THE Cebu Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) is eyeing a bigger travel fair next year because of the positive response from travel enthusiasts, tour groups and local government units (LGUs) to this year’s travel fair.

Titled “Cebu Journeys,” the result of the three-day travel fair held from Aug. 28 to 30 at the Capitol Social Hall surpassed their expectations, said PTO head Joselito “Boboi” Costas.

“We really wanted to bring this event to a bigger public. I received some requests to extend it until the weekend or bring it to a bigger venue,” said Costas, who also said the fair is an opportunity for LGUs to introduce their tourism products.

At least 1,200 registered guests, who were mostly students and travel enthusiasts, attended the exhibits of 23 municipalities and cities.

“It exceeded our expectation. Ang amo ra gyud ato is we wanted to bring the local government units and highlight especially the new offerings they have in their destinations. Wala gyud mi mag (We did not) expect ingon ana ang response,” Costas said.

According to Costas, the fair grossed about P120,000 in the sale of local delicacies and products during the first two days, excluding the tour packages and hotel bookings placed at the fair.

Richard Bustillo, 48, a basket weaver of Tabogon, said he earned at least P700 from the sale of his handcrafted woven rattan products like trays, fruit bowls and placemats.

Tuburan Tourism Officer Christine Mae Borja, on the other hand, said they collected about P5,000 from the sale of their coffee products.

Apart from local products and delicacies, towns like in Badian, Oslob, Samboan, Argao and others provide tour packages of their popular tourism sites.

Costas said the event also introduced agri-tourism in Cebu province.

Last Tuesday, the Cebu Provincial Board approved a resolution authored by PB Member Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, who chairs the committee on environmental conservation and natural resources, supporting the programs of PTO to promote agricultural farms as farm tourism sites in Cebu.

Costas said they planned to develop farms in the towns of Dalaguete, Alegria, Tuburan and San Francisco as farm tourism destinations.

Costas said he also planned to put up a “pick and pay” farm market for farmers residing in Osmeña Peak in Badian.

“We are planning to develop community-based farm tourism in Osmeña Peak and the surrounding areas,” Costas said.

In this kind of set up, tourists are briefed by the farmers of their planting method before the visitors choose and pay for the produce they want harvested.