A balikbayan joins the Sinulog dancers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in this January 2014 photo. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
More than 30 tour operators have been accredited to offer tour packages to visitors expected to arrive for the Sinulog Festival and the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).
Rowena Lu Y. Montecillo, Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director, said they were closely coordinating with the tour operators, who have submitted their proposed packages to the IEC committee on tours and tourist security. The DOT is a member of the committee.
The tour packages that will be offered are similar to those offered to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) delegates last year, Montecillo said.
The Tourism department expects a “significant increase” in foreign tourist arrivals this month because of the two major events – Sinulog Grand Parade on January 17 and the 51st IEC from January 24 to 31.
“We cannot say we’re expecting double digits, but we can say that compared to January last year we’re going to increase because of the many activities we’re having this year,” Montecillo said in a telephone interview.
“During the IEC, we’re expecting at least 15,000 arrivals if that’s the confirmed number of guests arriving. Also, after Sinulog, which is also a religious activity, some might choose to stay behind for IEC,” she added.
Foreign tourist arrivals in Cebu reached 155,567 in January last year, or more than half of the total foreign tourist arrivals in Central Visayas.
The region recorded a total of 284,647 domestic and international tourist arrivals in January 2015. Of the number, 181,139 were foreigners.
The international ASEAN Tourism Forum or ATF, which will be held in Manila from January 17 to 23, is also expected to draw a large number of agents and media for the post conference tours.
Montecillo said that since Cebu province will be hosting some of the agents and media, the event will also boost regional tourism figures.
As of October 2015, total tourist arrivals in Cebu reached 2.5 million, a 1.2 percent increase from the October 2014 figure.
While the number of Philippine residents decreased by 6.59 percent to 1.3 million in 2015 from 1.4 million in 2014, non-Philippine residents increased by 10.79 percent to 1.24 million in 2015 from 1.12 million in 2014.
This year, Montecillo said the DOT regional office is targeting a total of 5.82 million tourist arrivals for Central Visayas.
Cebu province is expected to receive a big chunk of arrivals, at 4.47 million. Out of the 2016 target for Cebu, 1.93 million arrivals are expected to come from the domestic market and 2.54 million from the foreign market.
In an separate forum, Sinulog Foundation, Inc. (SFI) executive director Ricky Ballesteros noted a 200-percent to 300-percent increase in room rates due to the Sinulog festival and IEC. But he said this is normal.
Montecillo said the DOT does not have authority to regulate the rates of hotels and other accommodation establishments. An IEC team is in charge of clearing room rates, she added.