(The Freeman) Updated October 21, 2009 12:00 AM
CEBU, Philippines - With the “ber” months already started and the cold season felt, the onset of tourist bookings have already been coming in for some travel agencies in Cebu.
Jenny Franco, chairman of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies in the Philippines- Cebu Chapter and the president and managing director of Travel Vision, said that for their company, they have started to get bookings for the holiday season but then they have noted of more bookings last year compared to this year in the same months.
Franco said that they have anticipated this due to the economic crisis which was felt by different industries including the tourism sector.
However, Franco said that they are still optimistic with the current situation since Cebu is still a favorite destination especially for the market they usually have which are from the United States .
Franco said that they have even had bookings this early already for the Sinulog season which is still three months away.
She said though that they have seen the effect of the declaration of the whole Philippines under the state of calamity following the tragic effect of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”
Franco said that they have tourists coming from different countries such as Japan that have backed out from their earlier reservations due to information reaching them that the whole country is under the state of calamity even if only Luzon was greatly affected with the typhoons.
But Franco said that they are grateful though of the recent decision of the administration to exclude Visayas and Mindanao from the state of calamity.
Franco said that this has been a big help for them in inviting back their customers and have even gained back two of their clients.
According to Franco, the weather disturbance though is not the main reason for the slower arrival of tourists but largely because of the crisis.
Franco said that they continually push to the tourists to avail of the packages on a longer stay not only in Cebu but in other provinces.
She said that this has been a continued effort of the country with the advantage of the numerous condominiums and hotels that offer packages good for a longer stay.
Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano in a recent interview even stressed out the advantage of the coming in of investors in Cebu to put up more condominiums. — AJ dela Torre
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