CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Visayas has implemented various programs and initiatives to promote and develop the tourism industry in the region.
Speaking during the 7th episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas program on July 11, DOT-7 chief tourism operations officer Judy Gabato highlighted the agency’s key accomplishments in terms of developing the tourism industry, specifically in promoting the tourist destinations and diversifying tourism offerings.
Among the efforts done by the agency are the improvement of roads to tourism destinations, providing free Wi-Fi access to tourists, enhancing the overall tourism experience through the construction of tourist rest areas, the formulation of local tourism development plans across local government units, and ensuring the safety and security of local and international tourists visiting the region.
“During the pandemic, the regional office was able to create different identified circuits to promote the region’s tourism industry and aid the tourism sector. DOT was able to create interventions from different angles when it comes to the promotion of different destinations,” said Gabato.
Tourism development efforts
A major program of the agency is the DOT-Department of Public Works and Highway Convergence Program which allocated P6.3 billion for the improvement of roads in Central Visayas in 2022 to 2024.
The project is expected to enhance tourists’ road accessibility and visibility, leading to different tourist destinations.
To facilitate a better tourism experience, the tourism department also partnered with the Department of Information and Technology for the installation of free Wi-Fi facilities in some tourist spots in northern Cebu.
DOT-7 has also built and turned over five tourist rest areas in Dauis town in Bohol, and in the municipalities of Medellin, Carmen, Carcar City, and Moalboal in Cebu.
“These accomplishments reflect the DOT’s dedication to promoting and developing the tourism industry, ensuring its resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness on the global stage,” Gabato said.
The DOT also established strong partnerships with the local government units (LGUs), assisting them in crafting their respective local tourism development plans that will prioritize tourism security and foster a multidimensional tourism experience among visiting local and foreign tourists.
“DOT continues to ensure the safety and security of local and international tourists. We have partnered with the DILG to maintain and ensure that safety and security should be emphasized in our tourism development programs,” she added.
Part of the agency’s efforts to boost the tourism sector is the accreditation of primary and secondary tourism establishments.
DOT-7 has accredited 2,734 primary and secondary tourism establishments in the region as of June 30 this year.
They have also trained 10,104 Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) tourism workers, which ranked third for the most number of trainees in the country.
Tourism recovery
Records show an increasing number of flights recorded over the past few years, which Gabato said indicates the continued recovery of the tourism sector in the region.
Around 1,836 weekly flights were recorded at the Mactan Cebu International Airport, of which 1,470 are domestic flights and 366 are international flights.
In 2023, the country registered 5.45 million international tourist arrivals, surpassing the target of 4.8 million international visitors.
Upcoming events
In line with the Marcos administration’s vision of positioning the country as a tourism powerhouse in Asia, DOT-7 is set to hold tourism events and programs that will entice more local and international visitors and showcase the region’s growing tourism industry.
Among the upcoming events are the Dive Festival in July 2024 in Negros Oriental, the Philippine Tourism Awards in December 2024, and the Philippine Experience Program Visayas Leg in November 2024.
“We make sure that we always collaborate with LGUs, partner agencies, and tourism stakeholders, ensuring that we have a strong partnership so that whatever challenges are there, we can be able to address these challenges and deliver the expected results that will benefit our tourists and the entire tourism sector. We have so much to offer, so please help us promote the tourist destinations all around the country,” Gabato said.
DOT-7 was the featured agency during the 7th episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, a new platform initiated by the Presidential Communication Office through the Philippine Information Agency.
The activity serves as a platform to enhance public understanding and engagement with the national government’s programs and projects through the different implementing government agencies.
Watch the full episode here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Dja9yX6CHWoKaVQ6/?mibextid=qi2Omg.(RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
