International Travel Fiesta to boost lull in June tourism-organizers

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/06/19/international-travel-fiesta-boost-lull-june-tourism-organizers-414132
• Friday, June 19, 2015

By Earl Jon M. Rallos

ORGANIZERS of the first Cebu International Travel Fiesta promised exciting tour packages and great travel deals as they opened the fair at the SM City Cebu North Wing yesterday. The fair runs until tomorrow.

The event was organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the highlights of this year’s Cebu Business Month (CBM) celebration.

According to CBM 2015 tourism committee chairperson Cenelyn Manguilimotan, 50 exhibitors were invited to take part in the CIFT, all of them tourism stakeholders ranging from local and international travel agencies, real estate, airlines, and hotels.

“In June, usually the travels are off, but what we are hoping is that they are (clients) buying their packages now and they’re going to travel later,” said Manguilimotan, who also pointed out how Cebu is an ideal place for tourism.

“We do not want Cebu to be limited because Cebu has so much to offer,” she added.

Sun.Star Cebu also supported the event.

The grand opening yesterday was attended by Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza. In her speech, Magpale said that Cebu won’t be the only province to benefit from the CIFT but the entire country’s tourism as well.

CBM 2015 overall chairperson Francis Dy said that by staging the travel fair, they want to help the tourism industry level up.

“Our tourism industry is one of the key factors to achieve inclusive growth, as envisioned by our government,” said Dy.

He also said that for the past years, they have limited their tourism activities to forums. He said now it was time that they hold activities that are action-based or result-based.