Lake Danao, a large body of freshwater located in San Francisco, Camotes Island, is one of Suroy Suroy Sugbo’s package tour destinations for this year. | Wenilyn Sabalo
CAMOTES ISLAND, Cebu—The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, a tourism program initiated by the government of Cebu, recently returned with a trip to Camotes Islands on April 15-16, 2023.
Around 300 tourists joined the tourism caravan dubbed “Suroy Suroy sa Enchanting Camotes.”
The tourism initiative visited four municipalities of Camotes Islands, namely Pilar, Poro, San Francisco and Tudela.
RELATED: IN PHOTOS: Suroy Suroy sa ‘Enchanting Camotes’
Among those who took part in the tour was Nelly Pomeroy, a balikbayan from the United States.
Pomeroy said she enjoys the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tourist initiative, which is the reason why this was the second time she joined the tour.
“This is my second time because after the Sinulog, I had the privilege to join the last Suroy-Suroy North escapade and I was really thrilled with that one and I enjoyed it. So when this came up, I knew I had to go,” Pomeroy said.
She also expressed how the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program is a great opportunity to reconnect with their roots and discover new places in the Philippines.
Joining the initiative, according to Pomeroy, gives tourists a more convenient way of exploring the different destinations in Cebu like Camotes.
Among the things she likes about the program is that tourists can interact with the locals and learn more about the history and tradition of the place they’re visiting.
For Camotes, Pomeroy says she sees potential for the island to become a top destination.
“I am hoping that this island will be more developed as this is the main reason of the Suroy-Suroy, to expose these kinds of places,” she said.
The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo aims to promote sustainable tourism and support the local communities by providing economic opportunities through tourism activities.
It is a way for visitors to appreciate the beauty and culture of Cebu, including Camotes Island, while supporting the local economy and preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the area.
Regional tourism directors from all over the country participated in the Camotes Island leg of the tourism caravan, hoping to learn more in preparation for the national rollout of this tourism initiative.
READ: Suroy Suroy Sugbo to go national: DOT execs join, study Cebu’s tourism caravan
/bmjo
