MCIAA’s ISO certification to boost Cebu’s tourism sector

CEBU’S tourism industry will get an image boost with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) passing the global standards for quality management system.

Industry experts shared this common view as they welcomed the MCIAA getting the certification of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015.

Alice Queblatin, Cebu Association of Tour Operator Specialists (CATOs) president, said that the MCIAA’s successfully attaining the ISO 9001:2015 certification would complete the total positive image of Cebu’s tourism facilities.

“This international certification gives MCIAA a very good image — a recognition of its efficient services and easier conduct of business transactions in the airport. It is definitely an added star in its upgraded, relevant services for the public,” Queblatin told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview on Sunday.

“The certification helps a lot because tourists’ first and last impressions will be the airport,” said Joselito “Boboi” Costas, Cebu Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) head, in a phone interview on Sunday.

According to the Department of Tourism in Central Visayae (DOT – 7), Tourist arrival in Cebu is expected to increase about 7.5 percent in 2019.

“It shows that we have a world class standard airport in Cebu which we Cebuanos are proud of,” said Carlo Anton Suarez, president of the Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC).

Suarez also said that with this development, they would expect more tourist arrivals in the coming months.

Last October 25, MCIAA General Manager Steve Dicdican received the ISO certification from the Government Quality Management Committee (GQMC) at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The ISO certification highlights the seal of business excellence that demonstrates “the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.”

While meeting the requirement of having the “documented quality management system” and not a system of documents in order to attain such recognition.

Hembler Mendoza, Lapu-Lapu City Tourism head, for his part, said this would promote Cebu, particularly Lapu-Lapu City where the airport is situated, in terms of investment and tourism.

“It goes to show that the management is making it sure to improve in so many aspects not only in terms of physical amenities but also the people behind it,” said Mendoza as the recognition focused on the quality management system.

“In terms of competitiveness, we can compete against international and global airports. This is very good. It allows the airport to compete in the global arena. For me, it’s very good,” added Stanley Go, the president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).