Tourism events

By Mila C. Espina

Cebu tackles the global economic downtrend with fearless projects to sustain the ever stable tourism arrivals we are getting from Russia, China, and, of course, Korea. The stakeholders hope to entice visitors from India, Mexico, and even New Zealand. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry will have a Trade Mission to Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, to explore the yet untapped industries for Cebu business specifically in food and dairy/farm products, education, tourism, outsourcing, garment, fashion, and accessories. The trip is on May 9-16 and we are targeting academicians and traders. We are in contact with the chamber groups and the Filipino communities there as well as the Philippine Embassy and the New Zealand ambassador and staff. So far, about 10 had expressed their desire to join and we are still counting. Soon, we will be announcing the travel agency that will handle the project after the bidding for it is over.

For more details, call Bonjit at CCCI 232-7088; 232-1421 to 27. Or call me at 253-3656; 0917-3207088. Join us as we explore the natural wonders and business opportunities in New Zealand. To be able to get our visas on time, we need your confirmation before April 13.

We had an active role in the One Visayas and witnessed the traffic of enthusiastic viewers from the academe. Its opening and closing ceremonies were festive. In 2011, Antique will be the host. Gov. Sally Perez said that the Cebu hosting will be a hard act to follow. You bet! Meantime, the Creative Tourism seminars and exhibits focused on case studies of how creative cities emerged through the efforts of small communities and innovative people. This project of the British Council had the support of the province and city of Cebu and colleague Jay Aldeguer, the chairman of the Cebu Visitors Convention Bureau, the right guy to execute the concept. Andrew Senior, head of the creative unity of the British Council, said the creative industry needs the support of the government and communities and will bank on the leadership of influential or empowered keyplayers to propel the program.

The Vis-Min Travel and Leisure Show had its own share of incentivized exhibits where the airline as well as the travel and tour agencies conducted business matching. We salute pacesetters Marget Villarica, Cecille Saa, Zenaida Chua, Marisol Baria, and Cookie Chan for making the annual event an affair to reckon with. The Cebu X Furniture Exhibits drew a huge viewers as well. The Gallery of Janice Minor was truly exquisite.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and DoT 7 director Dawnie Roa swept the job hopefuls off their feet with countless companies which made employment interviews instant while the Trabaho sa Turismo had its stint in Cebu.

For the past years, some 20,000 or more unemployed graduates benefited from this job fair.

Korean Air Awards Night

As usual, the hilarious awards fellowship of Korean Air held at the Marriot Hotel was an affair to remember. The bubbly resident manager Paul Han was the man of the hour who brought the house down. Who could stop Villarica, Aida Uy, and Shiela Colmenares from pulling his leg? Paul is simply amazing and a great sport!

The awardees were: Travelways (Gold); Grand Holidays (Silver); Grand Hope (Bronze). Other top producers were Cebu Fortune Travel, Destination Specialists, Global Link, Southwind Travel, Leisure Travel, Pan Pacific, and Tourtopia Travel.