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Lead by Tourism Secretary Joseph ‘Ace ‘ Durano, a 70-strong top-caliber delegation representing the Philippines went on a successful mission to Seoul, South Korea last June 1-5, 2005, to take part in the 18th Korea Travel Fair (KOTFA), South Korea’s largest travel event of the year participated in by different countries around the world.

After only three months since the Philippines participation in the said event, statistics show that Korean visitors to the country increase in double digits. Majority of them went to different islands in the Visayas and Mindanao lured by the promise of a worry-free tropical getaway. Cebu easily become the top destination for Korean tourists who come to the Philippines, owing to its accessibility and world-class facilities for international tourists. Another reason for the growing interest among Koreans to come to Cebu is the cheap travel packages that include English language study in any of Cebu’s DOT-accredited institutions.

With the increasing influx of Koren tourists to Cebu, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport has provided Korean assistants in its terminal and more Korean-speaking attendants will be added to existing airport centers. Another terminal is proposed to meet the projected increase of international foreign travellers to the region.

To take advantage of the strong growth in interest among Koreans to travel and explore the Visayas region, particularly Cebu, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, South Korea’s two largest airline companies commenced their regular flights in July 2005 between Cebu and two Korean destinations, Incheon and Seoul.
Asiana Airlines for its part, have four weekly flights between Incheon and Cebu and Korean Air flies twice a week between Seoul and Cebu. With the additional flights between Cebu and Korea, Philippine Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano expressed optimism that more and more Korean tourists will come to the region. Cebu has also direct flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Qatar, and Taipei.

More than 10 million Koreans travel each year and Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano hopes to corner at least half a million of them to visit to the Philippines, particularly Cebu.

With his new assignment as SBMA in Subic, Zambales, Patrick Gregorio will have to relinquish the post he has held as chairman of the Cebu Visitors Convention Bureau since its inception a little more than three years ago. Although in principle, he still heads the orgnization, but since he is no longer based in Cebu, he has to delegate some of the responsibilities that need a hands-on management team.

In view of this, CVCB has appointed Mila Espina as its new executive director. Mila Espina has been very active in the tourism affairs of Cebu, organizing tourism-related events and participating in most of the activities that promote Cebu.

As the new executive director, she has now the huge responsibility in her hands to further develop the image of Cebu as a world-class international tourist destination. To attain this goal, among her priorities is to bring in more international conventions and similar events to Cebu in the next few years.

Ayala Center Cebu is synonymous with classy shopping catering mostly to the higher segments of the society, the ABC market. Elegant shops and designer boutiques of international and local brands come into an interesting juxtaposition of chic and sophistication.

Since it opened its doors to the Cebuano shoppers over a decade ago, Ayala Center Cebu has strived to be the shopping hub for the discriminating Cebuano clientele. With an eye to pamper its shoppers more than providing them a dizzying array of shopping options, it creates an ambience to make shoppers feel they are there to while away and enjoy quality time from the rigors of office works and house chores.

Strolling along its well-laid out passes either windowshopping or simply getting your leg muscles stretched , you would think you come for a leisurely walk in the park, not to check out the latest craze in fashion or ogling those young school girls in their minimalistic get-ups.