APART from positioning Cebu as a world-class destination for medical and wellness tourism in Asia by 2010, tourism industry players are also tapping the province’s potential as a shopping destination for local and foreign travelers.

“Shopping tourism,” described as an emerging venture in the industry, was discussed by the Philippine International Trade Fair (PITF) 2008 chairperson Angel Ramos Bognot in last week’s Tourism Congress at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Bognot said the venture represents an “intimate and emotional” relationship between the country and the tourists as manifested through the buying of clothes, souvenirs and food, among others. More…

Back from a 10-day mission to Eastern Europe with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, furniture leaders in Cebu expressed optimism of getting a good market share in former communist-socialist republics.

The trip allowed Cebu furniture makers to show their products in Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia.

Ruby Salutan, executive director of the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF), said they were able to meet industry counterparts, which resulted in higher awareness that Cebu has “high-end, top-of-the-line furniture pieces.” More…

IN PUSHING for positive change in Mactan, local business leaders have drafted a 10-point plan to maximize the island’s potential as a tourist hub and a location for foreign investments.

The agenda proposes the designation of half of Mactan Island as a “genuine tourism zone” to be operated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

Roberto Go, Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) board member, said this can be made possible by declaring the area as a tourism economic zone under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza). More…

A SUBSIDIARY of First Pacific Company Ltd., which owns a significant stake in the Philippine Long Distance Co. (PLDT), is planning to build a hospital in Cebu.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of First Pacific and PLDT, said he is “talking to a local partner to put up a brand new hospital” in Cebu. He said the local partner which he declined to identify is already involved in hospital operations. More..

HOLLYWOOD entertainment would soon be within the reach of Cebuanos.

This, with the plans of a foreign company to develop a Hollywood-type disco club on the site of the old casino at Nivel Hills in Lahug, Cebu City. The disco club, to be named Don Christo K., is expected to become operational by the end of the year and will include a paradise garden and a restaurant.

The disco club will feature international entertainers, said Chris Karageorges, a British citizen who founded the Don Christo K. Inc., the company that will develop the future entertainment facility. He added that the club will also feature the latest trends in gaming. More…

One of the famous computer brands in the world is now here in Cebu.
The Lenovo Concept Store branch is now open at 2nd Level, CyberZone
Northwing, SM City Cebu. Lenovo Store combines brand display, product
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Lenovo Concept Store is owned and managed by Ng Khai Development Corporation. Visit or call us at (32)236-2961 to 62.

THE third and biggest SaveMore branch in Cebu opened last Friday, with the “park-and-shop” market segment as main target.

The supermarket, with its more than 200 workers coming from the local community, is located at the ground floor of Parkmall@168 (Parkmall) at the Mandaue City reclamation area.

SaveMore at Parkmall, a supermarket brand under the SM Supervalue Group, covers a total area of about 6,000 square meters. Of the total area, only 4,500 square meters are occupied by retail operations. More…

THREE cities in Cebu emerged among the top six cities where it is easiest to start a business in the Philippines, according to a survey commissioned by the International Finance Corp. and the World Bank.

Lapu-Lapu City is the second easiest city to start a business in, next only to Taguig. Cebu City placed fourth, while Mandaue landed sixth in a list of 21 cities in the “Doing Business in the Philippines 2008” survey. Continue…

The State of Israel aims to jumpstart strong trade relations with the Philippines seeing an opportunity to increase trade exchanges by capitalizing on each country’s expertise.

Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Zvi Aviner Vapni said Cebu could maximize trade opportunities in Israel as it also has a huge potential in attracting Information Technology (IT) related investments.

Cebu could also tap the growing 7.28 million population in Israel as market for Cebu-made products like furniture, wood raw material, processed food (fruits and seafood), among others, Vapni said. More…

A team of Cebu-based companies are looking at a potential market for IT services in South Korea following a visit to country’s version of Silicon Valley.

Organized by the Cebu Business Chamber of Commerce, a delegation of 18 companies visited South Korea last month. Among other places, the group visited Daedok Innopolis in the city of Daejon, dubbed the Silicon Valley of Korea. More…

DESPITE rising fuel and food prices, a global savings bank remains confident in the Philippine economy, particularly Cebu’s growth.

John Hickey, GE Money Philippines chief operating officer, said the bank intends to focus more on global growth through emerging markets like the Philippines.

“The Philippines had the strongest growth in 31 years (last year). And in the Philippines, Cebu has the fastest growing (provincial) economy,” he said, citing the province’s tourism and business process outsourcing (BPO) industries. More…

CEBU has become the country’s fastest-growing metropolis, being the top choice of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies as an expansion area outside Metro Manila.

While bullish on the Metro Cebu property market, real estate services firm CB Richard Ellis Philippines said economic growth and the environment must be sustained, such as by addressing power supply.

“This growth in Metro Cebu comes with a price. The rapid expansion has led to a strain in the supply of power and potable water in the area,” CB Richard Ellis said in its property market overview. GMANews.TV