With a new air route connecting Cebu and Palawan, the tourism linkage between both destinations is expected to grow.

National flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), through its low fares unit PAL Express, recently opened direct flights between Mactan in Cebu and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

Both areas are considered prime tourist destinations in the central Philippines super region. More…

More tourists are expected to visit Cebu this year attracted by different tourism packages prepared by local government units and the sales mission abroad of the Department of Tourism (DOT), an official said Monday.

International flights are also expected to increase with plans of Continental Airlines that flies to Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions to open flights in Cebu.

“This is a good development that Continental Airlines is considering Cebu as a destination. If they pursue the plan that would mean we have passed their security tests. They have very high security requirement,” said Patria Roa, tourism regional director. More…

The Cebu City government eyes nighttime museum visits as a tourist attraction and a source of livelihood for the local community.

“We are giving another dimension to (Cebu City) tours,” said Nagiel Bañacia, Cebu City public information officer, at the press conference for the second Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage) held yesterday.

“Why are tourists coming in? It is because of our beaches. But they also want to look at our culture,” he added. More…

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 reported a 7.44-percent increase in visitor arrivals in Cebu from January to February this year from a year ago.

DOT records also show that there was an 8.85-percent increase in foreign travelers and 6.25-percent growth in domestic travelers coming to Cebu for the first two months of the year.

There were 127,561 foreign travelers and 147,638 domestics visitors, totaling 275,199 visitors. Sun.Star Cebu

THE future of the tourism industry in Cebu is made more promising as projects prompt academe to forge partnerships with the private sector.

For one, the University of San Carlos (USC) is contemplating of opening a hotel-school for its courses that will be producing graduates for the tourism industry.

The Network of Independent Travel Agencies (Nitas) president Robert Lim Joseph announced this during the 888 News Forum yesterday at Waterfront Hotel Lahug. More…

Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, Philippines - Marine sanctuaries should be considered part of the income-generating systems of coastal communities as these are also considered as tourism hotspots by the Tourism department.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said creating marine sanctuaries would eventually result to an improved fish catch for fisherfolks, but these can also be seen as “eco-museums” that would educate locals and tourists alike on the importance of the marine ecosystem.

Durano, together with Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Law of Nature Foundation president Tony Oposa, attended the launching of the Filipino-made glass bottom boat at the School of the SEAs (Sea and Earth Advocates) in Barangay (village) Okoy, Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island on Friday. More…

A PUBLIC Internet connection will be available this July in the vicinity of Cebu City Hall and Magellan’s Cross. The codification of the city ordinances will also be ready by then.

The Internet service is intended for tourists and visitors.

Cebu City Councilor Roberto Cabarubias, chairman on the committee of information technology, said the wi-fi connection will boost the number of tourists in the Magellan’s Cross area. More…

GOV. Felix P. Camacho and Lt. Gov. Michael W. Cruz, M.D. yesterday formalized Guam’s sister city relationship with the Philippine province of Cebu yesterday.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and mayors from the province of Cebu were guests of the governor during the signing of the agreement in the Governor’s Conference Room in Adelup. More…

Skalleagues from Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Makati, Manila, Bacolod and Davao joined Skal International Cebu as they celebrated their 18th anniversary recently in Cebu City.

During the three-day event, Skal Asian Area president Earl Wieman, Skal Kuala Lumpur President Ivo Nekvapil and Skal Cebu President Charles Lim signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a twinning program of their Skal clubs.

The MOU encourages the support of each other’s tourism and cultural projects; the exchange of personal visits of Skalleagues, their families and associates, the encouragement of “Doing Business Among Friends” – the main practice of Skal International, and the undertaking of joint-projects within framework of Skal International. More…

Cebu’s position as an international gateway will be strengthened with plans to open more direct flights to various international tourist destinations.

Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano said officials are hoping to see direct flights from Osaka, Japan and Chiang Mai, Thailand to Cebu and vice versa.

Durano said Cebu flights to Nanning, China will also be implemented between May to June 2008. Continue…

A LOCAL company has stepped up aerial sightseeing tours in response to the call of Department of Tourism (DOT) to come up with innovative ways to draw tourists to visit Cebu.

Captain Jessup M. Bahinting, Aviatour chairman and chief executive officer, said they target at least 1,000 local and foreign tourists to avail of the flight tours every month.

He said at present 40 percent of tourists who go on sightseeing tours are foreigners composed of Koreans, Japanese and Chinese nationals. Continue..

Although the market is expected to contract because of the continuing
recession in the US, increasing production costs and the appreciation
of the peso, Cebu’s furniture exporters are looking forward to their
annual fair to generate much-needed opportunities.

Even before Cebu Xcite 2008, the annual furniture show here, could
open, the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc. (CFIF) reported
that the number of pre-registered buyers has doubled, compared to the
2006 show. “We equate this to a possible high attendance and in return,
more export sales and jobs. We are confident that the visiting buyers
are not here just to look around and waste their time, but they are
here for a very good reason and that’s to buy,” said CFIF President
Eric Vincent Casas.More on Cebu Xcite 2008 stories