Cebu could learn from Hawaii's tourism blueprint

(The Freeman) Updated November 24, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - In order to sustain and further improve its tourism advantage, Cebu should get support and learn from Hawaii in terms of effective tourism blueprint.

Cebu Investments and Promotions Center (CIPC) managing director Joel Mari S. Yu said that Cebu should take advantage of the Hawaii government’s interest, especially from Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, to forge a stronger relationship between Cebu and Honolulu.

“We should learn how they were able to promote Hawaii [in terms of tourism]. We have the same attraction, unlike Paris, France and other well known destinations,” Yu said.

In 1994, the Cebu government forged a partnership with the Honolulu government, and one of the primary concerns was to learn from Hawaii, on how to formulate an effective tourism promotion blueprint.

However, Yu said the planned partnership was not successful because of the political transitions. Now, Yu hopes that the tourism private sector will lead in getting technical support from Hawaii.

“You see, Hawaii and the Philippines have the same attraction — sea, climate and the sun. We should learn from them,” Yu said.

In his recent visit to Cebu, Hannemann urged Cebuanos and the prime movers of the tourism industry here --- both government and private sector --- to re-enforce the partnership between Cebu and Honolulu which was started by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña over a decade ago.

“We can develop strong partnership together. Don’t just learn from our successes, but ask us why? We can help,” Hanneman told Cebuanos during his visit in Cebu as part of the 21st Trade Mission to the Philippines organized by the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the Honolulu local government.

Today, the tourism industry in Honolulu is a US$2.5 billion industry, providing over 500 thousand jobs.

Despite its success in the tourism trade, Hanneman said his government is continuously pursuing projects that will further develop the tourism industry in Hawaii, investing further in infrastructure and sustainability projects.

“There a lot of opportunities for us to learn from each other,” Hanneman said.

While Cebu and Honolulu had already forged sister-city agreement years back, Hanneman said it is also high time for the business sector in both cities to forge strong linkages.

Recently, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for stronger linkage.

CCCI chairman for Trade Missions Nelson Bascones hopes that CCCI will be able to immediately connect with the Filipinos based in Hawaii and the Honolulu local government in order for Cebu to learn from them most especially in the area of tourism promotion. — Ehda M. Dagooc