CREATING new, convenient and accessible tourism destinations, the Department of Tourism (DOT) pushed areas in Northern Cebu as one of the three top strategic destination areas (SDA) in the Visayas.

Learning from problems brought about by the lack of infrastructure projects, DOT Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said, in a press conference, that for these areas to “take-off” as sustainable tourism destinations, they must have vital infrastructure, such as airport, ‘upgraded’ roads, waste management, power and water supply systems, among others. SunStar Cebu

Top officials in the Visayas regions agreed to hold a weeklong expo on February 2009 to showcase their different products, arts, cultures and festivals.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia said the project “One Visayas, One People, One Destiny” aims to strengthen cultural bond among the different islands in the region.

“Instead of quarreling with the people in Manila, we in the Visayas regions started to look for the commonality in us, something that we can work on,” said Antique Gov. Salvacion Perez. More…

SEVERAL international airlines are interested to put up direct flights from Cebu to other countries because not one incident involving terrorism had been recorded since the Mactan airport was upgraded to international standards in 1991.

“The focus of security is really (on) the highest type of threat, which (endangers) passengers and aircraft,” said Danilo Augusto Francia, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) general manager.

This November, Francia said, security inspectors and experts from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States and the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) will evaluate and review the security system at the Mactan Cebu International Airport. SunStar

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Sunday to start the construction of a P48-million bridge that would ease traffic congestion at a major artery between the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

The President issued the instruction to Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane after she inspected the proposed site of the bridge in Barangay (Villages) Canduman and Cabancalan in Mandaue City, said Cebu 6th district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz on Sunday.

Soon-Ruiz, who initiated the bridge project, said the President wanted DPWH to publish the invitation to bid by Thursday (Aug. 28) to ensure the start of construction by October. Inquirer.net

With the recent formation of the Cebu Health and Wellness Council (CHWC), stakeholders opened initiatives to establish Cebu as the country’s prime destination for medical tourism.

CHWC president Oscar Tuason said the council, a coalition of private and public institutions like hospitals, tour operators, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and hotels, wants to showcase Cebu’s medical, health and wellness expertise to the rest of the world.

He said three hospitals – Cebu Doctor’s, Chong Hua and Perpetual Succour — are equipped to handle such procedures as lasik, heart transplant and heart bypass surgeries. More…

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia announced Friday that the Provincial Government will create an office that will oversee the Mandaue City-based trade exposition “One Cebu” or the Obra-Negosyo Expo-Cebu Economic Enterprise Uplifting program.

The governor said she wants to make One Cebu an annual international trade exposition. SunStar Cebu

To strengthen Cebu’s position as a tourism and enterprising destination, the tourism and business sector players along with the Cebu Provincial Government initiated an eight-day “One Stop Showcase.”

The exhibit which will showcase the best of Cebu’s products, specialties and industries will display local and exporter products, to help big and small entrepreneurs to be inventive and show off their specialties to a broader market traffic.

Tourism advocate Mila Espina, in a statement furnished to The Freeman said the Cebu provincial government in tandem with the various businesses, civic and academic groups are taking the leadership to realize this conception in its long-term project called “One Cebu, Our Destiny.” The Freeman

Optimistic with Cebu’s flourishing business environment and the increasing demand for trucks on commercial operations, a Cebu-based car dealer will be bringing in three vehicle brands from China.

Foton, Yue Jin and Faw are only three of the many Chinese brands available in the market today and these will be brought in by car dealer Brian L. Chua, the director of Central AutoChina Corporation to the Cebu market in the coming months.

Chua said that currently, an 800 square meters of showroom space is already being constructed in Mabolo which will house model units of the three truck brands and is targeted to be operational by September or October. More…

A P1-million grand prize is up for grabs in the first Pasigarbo sa Sugbo festival competition on Aug. 9, a project mounted by the Cebu provincial government to promote the festivals of towns and cities.

The festival will have a street parade and contest, drawing comparisons to Cebu City’s annual Sinulog festival in January.

Cash prizes totaling P3.7 million for the Pasigarbo are bigger, however. And each town will receive P100,000 assistance from the Capitol to ensure a good performance. More…