Ironman brings out best of Cebu: Tourism stakeholders seek better infrastructure

Mateo Guidicelli’s fans could not contain their excitement as the star passed by them, continuing on in the race. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

The recently held Cobra Ironman 70.3 drew praises for the successful holding of the event, but there were calls also for better and more infrastructure in Cebu from tourism officials and stakeholders.

The event has somehow instilled the “spirit of tourism” not only to the industry stakeholders but to all the people in the community, said Tourism Regional Director Rowena Montecillo yesterday.

“Aside from the obvious impact which is the occupancy and a lot of activities on the side that generated revenues for other establishments, it is the kind of welcoming that made me say that the event is already well known by people and being watched out for every year,” said Montecillo.

Despite some concerns with the roads having potholes due to the failure of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Montecillo said the event drew out the “spirit of excitement” from the Cebuanos over the weekend.

“We feel sorry, however, for the roads, but there are things that are out of our control,” Montecillo said.

She said the Cebuanos’ reaction during the event is enough reason not to overlook it and to bring it back.

DESTINATION

Alice Queblatin, Tourism Congress vice president for travel and tours sector in the Visayas, said we could have done better.

“Definitely the sports event seals Cebu and specifically Mactan as a preferred tourist destination in Asia. It is noted in all blogs and PR that Lapu-Lapu put up a real good show especially on infra of the routes of events held there, but organizers and bikers were clear about the poor state and substandard quality of roads for the bike route,” Queblatin said.

“This is sad for Cebu City, and Cebu as a whole. Had promises for improved roads, which actually were requests also by Cebu residents not only by the Ironman organizers, been fulfilled, the impact would have been greater,” she said.

SHANGRI-LA

Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa general manager Marco Vazzoler agreed.

“The culture of service is well ingrained here. I have learned that hospitality is truly inherent in Filipinos, and English being widely spoken makes it easy for travelers to get around the country.

So it is the “hardware” that need to be put in place,” Vazzoler said.

“Infrastructure – a bigger airport to accommodate more tourists, good roads so tourists can travel around efficiently, and so on,” he said.

Being the main venue for the event Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa, a significant part of the resort’s room inventory was reserved for participants as well as their function spaces both indoor and outdoor.

“We’re excited about the media exposure and positive publicity this has generated not only for our resort, but also for Cebu as a destination. Anything we take-on must naturally make business sense, but what makes this particularly rewarding is for the Resort to be part of such a significant event. One that we know will be a big boost to Cebu tourism for years to come,” Vazzoler said.

HOTEL ROOMS

Aside from Shangri-la Mactan, other hotels and resorts especially in the Mactan area had their rooms occupied during the duration of the triathlon, which had 2,400 participants, 1/3 of which are foreigners.

The hotels included the Maribago Bluewater Resort, Crimson Resort and Spa, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

Meanwhile, JPark Island Resort Cebu head of external affairs Reno Bacolod said the event made a positive prospect of Cebu as a destination.

“We undoubtedly acknowledge the event as a watershed for Cebu to finally emerge as a major international destination for sports, events, MICE and more,” he said.

He also cited areas for improvement he gleaned from assessments from participants, audience, and the media.

“Infrastructure. Cebu’s world class hotels, resorts and natural attractions, local hospitality and amenities just cannot be sustained without infrastructure to make them interrelate cohesively. Give Cebu that and we can host anything,” he said.

Lapu-Lapu City tourism office head Hembler Mendoza said overall, this year’s hosting was better than the previous years.

“Everything was better except the roads but we have already talked to the organizers about that and they said they will come back to check on the roads next year to decide if they will still have it here,” said Mendoza.