THE PLACE THAT PUT THE PHILIPPINES ON THE WORLD MAP

Mactan Island shoreline,Cebu,Philippines

Tweet In the past, the city of Lapu-Lapu was known as the place where local chieftain - the city’s namesake, Lapu-Lapu—defeated and killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, putting on hold Spain’s ambition to colonize the Philippine islands for another 40 or so years. 

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Today, the city is known for quite different reasons. Although much of the natural beauty of Mactan Island, where Lapu-Lapu City is located, has been retained over the centuries, it looks that the place is looking very optimistically into the future.

Lamudi Philippines has put together five reasons Lapu-Lapu City is the next business and tourism hot spot in Cebu province and the Central Visayas region, and the exciting future that awaits the city.Today, the city is known for quite different reasons. 

It is home to the country’s second-busiest airport

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For years the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which is under the jurisdiction of Lapu-Lapu City, has been Central Visayas’s gateway to the rest of the Philippines. However, this airport, which handled 7.78 million passengers in 2015, is also fast becoming Cebu’s gateway to the rest of the world.

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Regular scheduled flights operate from the Mactan airport to other major cities in Asia, such as Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul and Dubai. But just recently, flag carrier Philippine Airlines has started operating daily nonstop flights from the airport to Los Angeles, a testament to Lapu-Lapu City’s, and indeed, the rest of Cebu province’s position as a favorite Philippine destination by foreign visitors.

To keep up with increasing passenger number, the Mactan airport is currently undergoing a major upgrade. Construction of the airport’s Terminal 2 is on track for a June 2018 delivery, according to GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. in an article published in SunStar Cebu. The new terminal will serve all the airport’s international flights and will have an area of about 45,000 square meter, which can be expanded further in a succeeding development phase. The old terminal, meanwhile, is currently being refurbished and will eventually handle all domestic flights.

It is Central Visayas’s major tourism driver

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An article published in The Freeman cited data from the Department of Tourism (DOT), which showed that tourist arrivals in Central Visayas reached 3.5 million for the first 10 months of 2015. According to the DOT, Cebu province, as a whole, accounted for 64 percent and 84 percent of total domestic and foreign arrivals, respectively, to Central Visayas. This amounts to approximately 2.5 million tourists during the 10-month period. In addition, Lapu-Lapu City lodged majority of foreign tourists to the province, while Cebu City registered most of local visitors.

So what makes Lapu-Lapu City popular to tourists? According to Hembler Mendoza, the city’s chief tourism officer, aside from an international airport, Lapu-Lapu City is also home to at least 11 marine sanctuaries, bird and other wildlife sanctuaries, white-sand beaches, high-end hotels and resorts, and world-class dive sites. The city also offers leisure attractions not found in other parts of Cebu province, such as sunrise tours aboard a yacht and flight adventures, not to mention that there are 79 hospitality establishments in the city (and one on Olango Island) offering approximately 5,000 room inventories.

Its competitiveness ranking is improving

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Lapu-Lapu is also the only highly urbanized city in Cebu province whose competitiveness ranking has improved, according to the National Competitiveness Council (NCC). From the 23rd place in 2015, Lapu-Lapu City moved up to the 21st spot among all highly urbanized cities in the Philippines, while its overall ranking when all Philippine cities are considered surged to 39th in 2016 from the 70th position in 2015.

According to the NCC, the categories in which Lapu-Lapu City excels include presence of investment promotions unit, availability of utilities and compliance to national directives to local government units.

It has a buoyant local economy

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Where else in Cebu province will you find a diverse range of businesses, where business-process outsourcing (BPO) offices sit close to high-end hotels and beach resorts? Lapu-Lapu City offers these. In fact, the city government reported in 2015 that the number of business establishments in the city surged to approximately 12,000 in 2014, compared to about 7,000 logged in 2010, according to a report published in The Freeman.

In addition, the local government reported that the city’s revenue surged 50 percent to P1.4 billion, from P927 million in 2010. Lapu-Lapu City’s mayor was quoted as saying: “The sharp rise, she said, is the result of the taxes paid by companies doing business in the city because of its rosy economic prospects.”

It has an impeccable transport infrastructure.

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Aside from the Mactan airport, road travel within Lapu-Lapu City and the whole Mactan Island is quick and easy. Major thoroughfares encircle the entire periphery of island, while it is also connected to Mandaue in mainland Cebu via two bridges: Osmeña Bridge and Marcelo Fernan Bridge. And to ease traffic congestion on these two bridges, especially during rush hour, a third bridge is now being proposed, this time will connect the town of Cordova south of Lapu-Lapu City to Cebu City on the mainland.

The city is also much less prone to flooding during the monsoon season compared to Cebu and Mandaue. In fact, heavy rains brought about Habagat (southwest monsoon) in July of this year caused major floods of up to 2 feet in Cebu City’s busiest areas, but Lapu-Lapu City was virtually unaffected.

It is one of the most-searched locations in Lamudi

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Data from Lamudi Philippines shows that Lapu-Lapu City is one of the most searched locations for properties in the Central Visayas region (and second to Cebu City, which has more inventory and higher population base). But what’s noteworthy is that combined search volumes for houses and condos (both for sale and for rent) for Lapu-Lapu City increased 21 percent from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2016. In addition, looking at compound average growth rate (CAGR) using search data from the first six months of 2016, condos for sale and condos for rent have the highest growth rate in search volume, at 9.69 percent and 10.91 percent, respectively.

What the future holds

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Indeed, Lapu-Lapu is a city that, while deeply rooted to its past, is looking positively into the future. Its population grew an average 2.94 percent from 2010 to 2015, according to data from the Philippine Statistical Authority, and now stands at 408,112, according to the 2015 census. This growth may in part be attributed to the city’s remarkable economic performance. Over the next few years, the city will see the opening of BPO offices, mixed-use townships and resort-oriented developments, which will bring in more employment opportunities to the citizens of Lapu-Lapu City. And these developments are even more visible in the city’s Punta Engaño section and neighboring areas, a peninsula jutting out from Mactan Island’s northeastern corner. This area is where many of the city’s most upscale resorts and developments are located, including Discovery Bay Resorts and Residences, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Mövenpick Hotel and Megaworld Corp.’s Mactan Newtown.

These new developments are, perhaps, one reason many consider relocating to Lapu-Lapu City, as shown by data from Lamudi for the first six months of 2016. Most of searches for Lapu-Lapu properties are not coming from Lapu-Lapu itself, but from other places. Data from Lamudi shows that 35 percent of search volume for Lapu-Lapu properties originated from neighboring Cebu City, while 8.2 percent and 5.5 percent of searches came from Quezon City and Makati City, respectively. In addition, and although still small, 1.24 percent, 1.02 percent and 0.88 percent of the total search volume for Lapu-Lapu City originated from online property-hunters based in Dubai, Singapore and Sydney, respectively.

This shows that real estate in Lapu-Lapu, particularly houses and condos, are becoming popular not only among Cebu-based property-hunters but also among those based in Metro Manila and in other countries. Whether this will continue into the future remains to be seen, but highly likely, given how progressive Lapu-Lapu City is becoming.

Source: BusinessMirror

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Condotel units to add more rooms for tourists

Tambuli Seaside Residences, Mactan Island, Cebu

Cebu will have at least 300 more rooms for tourists when the condominium project in Mactan will be completed in the next few years.

These developed with the interest of most owners of the nearly 500 condominium units of Tambuli Seaside Living projects in Barangay Mactan.

Gerard Tan, Tytans Properties and Development, Inc. president, said almost 80 percent of unit owners in their multi-billion Tambuli Seaside Living project have expressed interest to participate in a condotel concept for their condo units.

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“Many of the unit owners live outside the country. Most of them also bought units for investment purposes and are more interested in income from leasing,” said Tan.

Under the condotel concept, unit owners let the developers manage their property and market it for leasing.

Instead of having it leased monthly, Tan said, they would lease it on a daily basis to cater to transient tourists just like a hotel.

Property management will be handled by a London-based consultancy firm while the developer’s in-house staff will handle hotel management.

One factor that has attracted buyers is the high hotel occupancy rates in Mactan Island all year round, said Tan.

He said income from leasing their units would offset the homeowners’ monthly dues.

Tytans Properties topped off towers A and B with 256 units yesterday as well as broke ground for tower C which has 196 units.

According to HRRAC in a March 30, 2016 report, Cebu has at least 7,000 four star and five star accommodations.

However, the number could reach 10,000 rooms with lower star ratings and other accommodations are considered.

Tambuli Seaside Living, rising on an 11,000-square-meter property which used to host Tambuli Beach Resort in Barangay Buyong, Lapu-Lapu City, is a six-tower mixed-use development with a 200-meter beach front.

It will feature a 5,000-sq.-m. clubhouse, pool and other amenities such as a strip mall.

Tan said the six towers comprise phase one of the development, totaling 1,200 units. He added that they have a “masterplan” for phase two, which will have five towers, but no have no intention to carry it out yet.

He said that around 85 percent of unit owners are locals, most of whom have relatives abroad who convinced them to buy, while the rest are overseas Filipino workers or foreigners based in Hongkong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and the USA.

Tan said units in towers A and B are set to be turned over by the second quarter of 2017. Units in both towers have been sold out while 93 percent of the units in tower C have been sold.

Montano Ty, Titans Properties chairman, said they plan to roll out the condotel program in the last quarter of next year.

“That is the earliest. We still have turnovers before that. If we are not ready, that’s going to be really bad for us,” he said.

When Tytans introduced Tambuli Seaside Living to the public in 2014, Ty said they were poised to become an investment destination, a second home, and a retirement place.

With powdery white sand and pristine blue waters fronting the property, Ty said they already have an advantage over their competitors.

Tytans Properties will be promoting their project at the 2016 Fiesta in America to be held in New Jersey, USA from August 13 to 14.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/98642/condotel-units-to-add-more-rooms-for-tourists#ixzz4JIjrVfB3 

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Cebu Daily News:

Cebu welcomed 10.6% more tourists

SOME two million visitors arrived in Cebu City from January to November in 2012, the latest data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 show.

http://www.mediahub360.com/virtual-tours/robinsons/final/amisa/index.html

The arrivals grew by 10.63 percent from the 1.8 million arrivals recorded in the same period in 2011.

Arrivals from the top 10 foreign travel markets totaled 802,371, up by 14.93 percent. Korea led the list with 386,322 arrivals, posting a 10.61 percent growth from 349,266 arrivals in 2011.

Among the key markets that posted significant growth is Russia, whose arrivals grew by 40.21 percent or 10,779 arrivals from 7,688 in 2011. It ranked fifth in the list, overtaking China, which is now in the sixth spot.

The increased number of Russian tourists in Cebu can be credited to the marketing efforts led by Russian Honorary Consul Armi Lopez-Garcia.

At least 487 Russian tourists visited Cebu in September last year. According to the Russian Federation-Philippines, that was by far the largest group that arrived, a significant development in terms of tourism and relations with Russia.

Garcia, in past interviews, said Cebu should attract the Russian market as they are long-staying tourists and are big spenders.

Next to Korea with the most number of arrivals is Japan, whose arrivals grew by 24.30 percent. Japanese arrivals in the first 11 months of 2012 totaled 179,336 higher than 144,275 arrivals in 2011.

This was followed by United States of America with 75,659 arrivals, which grew by 14.20 percent. Australia landed in the fourth spot with arrivals of 24,085, up by 13.61 percent.

Although overtaken by Russia, arrivals from China continued to grow. Their numbers grew by 11.07 percent or 26,597 arrivals.

Other markets that posted strong growth are Germany with 14,588 arrivals, growing at 13.27 percent; Singapore at 11,041 up by 8.55 percent; and United Kingdom, up by 16.01 percent for a total of 13,885 arrivals.

Arrivals from Canada, meanwhile, dropped from 9,996 in 2011 to 9,917 last year.

The DOT announced that the country welcomed some 4.3 million foreign visitors last year, posting a 9.07 increase from 3.9 million visitors in 2011. The agency said this is the first time the number of visitors surpassed four million.

South Korea remained the biggest market and the first to contribute more than one million visitors. USA came in second, with 625,626 arrivals, followed by Japan with 412,474 arrivals.

“Crossing the four-million mark is a feat in itself and puts us well on track to achieve our ultimate goal of 10 million visitor arrivals by 2016,” DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez in a statement.

He noted that three significant source markets namely, Japan, Taiwan and Russia, an emerging market, have surpassed their target arrivals for 2012.

The country achieved only 93.8 percent of its goal of 4.5 million arrivals last year due to factors like economic and political pressures from traditional markets such as US, Europe and China.

Depsite the challenges ahead, Jimenez remained optimistic that the country would be able to meet the target of five million arrivals this year.

He said the thrust of the agency’s marketing this year is market development, which entails “expanding the potential market for new users and new uses.”

“We will look into segments that we have not thoroughly explored. We will explore more creative executions geared toward sustaining the fun we have started. We hope to have stronger representation and be the part of the future of tourism in Asia,” Jimenez said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2013/01/25/cebu-welcomed-106-more-tourists-264849
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Cebu Pacific flew 11% more passengers in ‘12

CEBU Pacific flew 13.26 million passengers from January to December 2012, an increase of 11 percent over the 11.93 million passengers it flew in 2011.

http://www.mediahub360.com/virtual-tours/robinsons/final/amisa/index.html

Cebu Pacific attributes this increase to the expansion in its domestic and international operations in 2012. It launched direct flights from Manila to Hanoi, Siem Reap and Xiamen, as well as from Cebu to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur last year. The airline also started direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore.

This expansion, as well as seat sales and strengthened tourism promotions, led to notable passenger growth in the following international markets: Malaysia (21 percent), Taiwan (22 percent), China (29 percent), Vietnam (30 percent) and Brunei (32 percent).

A total of 10 domestic routes were also launched, paving the way for more air travel in various parts of the Philippines. This includes flights from Davao to Dipolog and from Zamboanga to Cagayan de Oro, routes which were previously served by buses plying 12-14 hour rides.

Domestic passengers from the airline’s Cebu hub grew by 20 percent, while its Davao hub grew by 16 percent.

“It is very fulfilling for us in the Cebu Pacific team to continue giving travellers new destinations, the lowest fares and direct flight options. The Philippines’ momentum when it comes to tourism buzz will be supported by Cebu Pacific’s expansion to more regions in the world,” said Cebu Pacific vicew president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog.

Cebu Pacific is slated to launch twice weekly Manila-Bali (Denpasar) flights on March 16. It will also launch its long-haul operations with its first Manila to Dubai flight on Oct. 7, 2013.

Lowest year-round fares to Bali start at P3,499, while lowest year-round fares to Dubai are as low as P6,999.(PR)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2013/01/24/cebu-pacific-flew-11-more-passengers-12-264644

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Sustained momentum

IF past trends are to be made basis, the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) 7 has reason to believe the economy of Central Visayas grew by six percent “at the very least”.

http://www.mediahub360.com/virtual-tours/robinsons/final/amisa/index.html

An economic situation report prepared by Neda 7 Assistant Regional Director Efren Carreon stated that past trends show the region’s growth is faster than that of the national economy.

According to the report, Central Visayas posted 12.5 percent GRDP (gross regional domestic product) in 2010, the highest growth in the country that year, and 7.5 percent in 2011, second to the Caraga’s 9.6 percent growth.

Carreon pointed out that compared with the Philippine economy, which grew by 7.6 percent in 2010 and 3.9 percent in 2011, Central Visayas has consistently shown stronger growth.

“I am glad to report that preliminary indicators suggest that the Central Visayas economy was able to sustain the economic growth momentum realized in 2010 and 2011,” Carreon said.

Carreon said that many leading industries continued to turn in good performances in 2012.

With the Philippine economy growing 6.5 percent for the first nine months of 2012, they are confident that the region posted a high growth for the whole year, citing the last two years showing Central Visayas surpassing the national average.

For Neda 7, industry and services are what drive the region’s economy. Carreon said the sustained expansion of outsourcing and tourism markets fueled the growth of construction, real estate, transportation, retail trade and banking sectors. The high level of consumption among families of overseas Filipino workers is also seen as benefitting the retail trade and real estate sectors.

Retail expansion

Citing a report from the Cebu Investment Promotion Center (CIPC), Carreon said 17 new foreign business process outsourcing companies opened in Cebu, majority of which were from the non-voice sector, a sector that requires high value-added skills.

Aside from the new locators, existing companies like Accenture Philippines and Stream Global Services expanded, providing more employment opportunities in the region.

In retail, store chains expanded operations while Cebu also saw new players joining the retail industry in Central Visayas. These included the new operations of SM Consolacion, Gaisano Grand Mall in Talamban, 7 Eleven, Mini Stop and Wilcon Builders Depot.

Carreon said retailers took advantage of increased consumerism and improved spending capability among residents here, as the purchasing power of consumers has risen due to the availability of well-paying jobs in the BPO sector and the steady remittances of OFWs.

The report also cited real estate and construction as among the sectors that benefitted from the expansion of other industries.

“More and bigger projects were stated in 2012 to support the expansion of the outsourcing, retail trade and tourism industries. The real estate and construction industries benefitted from the steady demand for real property investments from OFWs,” the report said.

The report noted data from the National Statistics Office showing an increasing trend in the number and value of construction projects of hotels, office buildings, stores and residential condominiums.

The Board of Investments also indicated 13 out of 24 projects registered with them in 2012 were for mass housing and hotel construction. The total estimated cost of these projects reached P4.3 billion, representing nearly 10 percent of total investments registered with the BOI in 2012.

Growth of real estate and construction has remained steady in the past two years as both sectors posted double-digit growth since 2010. They are also considered among the key contributors to the region’s economic growth.

Construction was the highest performing industry in 2011, with a growth rate of 21.5 percent while real estate services were the best performing sector at 10 percent.

The report also showed positive figures in tourism, shipping, aviation and exports, although the data available only covered the first half of 2012.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2013/01/25/sustained-momentum-264850

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DOT to explore new marketing strategies

CEBU, Philippines -  The Department of Tourism (DOT) is embarking on a market development thrust this year, which entails expanding the potential market for new users and new uses.

“We will look into segments that we have not thoroughly explored. We will explore more creative executions geared towards sustaining the fun we have started. We hope to have stronger representation and be part of the future of tourism in Asia,” said tourism secretary Ramon R. Jimenez.

Jimenez admitted that it is going to become increasingly challenging to meet the future targets, which is to hit 10 million arrivals by 2016, “but we know that Filipinos are the biggest believers of our slogan. It’s more fun in the Philippines.’

The secretary is confident however, that the country will be able to cross the five million milestones in 2013.

The country, bringing the slogan of “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” ended the year 2012 with a total of 4.3 million foreign visitors, a 9.07 percent increase from 3.9 million visitors recorded at the end of 2011.

The year 2012 marks the first time in the country’s tourism history to surpass the four million visitor arrival mark, said Jimenez.

South Korea set a new all-time high by supplying a total of 1,031,155 visitors or 24.13 percent of the total visitor volume to the Philippines.  Registering 11.45 percent growth from 2012, South Korea remains the biggest market and the first to contribute one million visitors.

The United States of America came in second with 625,626 visitors, equivalent to a 15.27 percent share. Japan ranked third with 412,474 visitors or 9.65 percent of the total inbound traffic.

Other markets consistently providing significant volume and positive growth are China with 250,883 arrivals (5.87 percent), Taiwan with 216,511 (5.07 percent), Australia with 191,150 (4.47 percent), Singapore with 148,215 (3.47 percent), Canada with 123,699 (2.90 percent), Hongkong with 118,666 (2.78 percent), Malaysia with 114,513 (2.68 percent), United Kingdom with 113,282 (2.65 percent), and Germany with 67,023 (1.57 percent). Overseas Filipinos supplied 5.05 percent to the total tourist traffic at 215,943 arrivals, exhibiting a steady growth rate of 4.24 percent.

“Crossing the 4-million mark is a feat in itself and puts us well on track to achieve our ultimate goal of 10 million visitor arrivals by 2016,” Jimenez enthused.

Three significant source markets have also surpassed their respective target arrivals for the year in review. Japan’s actual visitor arrival output of 412,474 is 3.86 percent higher than its target of 397,141. Taiwan surpassed 10.46 percent by registering 216,511 arrivals. Russia, an emerging market, yielded 22.12 percent more than its target of 23,149 arrivals.

The country achieved 93.8 percent of its 4,556,582 visitor arrival goal for 2012. Some shortfalls were felt due to economic and political pressures from traditional markets such as US, Europe, and China.

 However despite a few bumps on the road, all key source markets still registered positive growth for the year. (FREEMAN)

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Cebu tourism players brace for Chinese market rebound

CEBU, Philippines -  While bookings from the Chinese market has started to pick-up in Cebu as the Chinese new year approaches, industry players expressed concern of uncertainty of receiving more bookings from this particular market.

“There is still a degree of uncertainty, issuing VISA to the Philippines [from the Chinese government]. And the question of mobilizing sufficient flights in a relatively short time [17 days left] is a concern,” said Hotel, Resort an Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Hans Hauri.

Hauri, the general manager for Marco Polo Plaza Cebu said that his hotel have received bookings from different groups from mainland China, from Guangzhou Province, Shanghai and Taiwan.

Other hotels in the City reported have good booking status from the Chinese market this year, compared to the almost-zero booking in 2012.

Cebu Parklane International Hotel general manager Cenelyn Manguilimotan said that the hotel has blocked 100 rooms for its Chinese guests that will spend their Chinese New Year vacation in Cebu this year.

According to Manguilimotan the Chinese visitors are booked to stay in 241-rooms from February 10 to 14. Last year, she said the hotel got no booking from this particular market for the Chinese new year season.

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu director for sales and marketing Ann Olalo reported that the hotel is preparing to host 10 groups to come by batches, on a tour series package that will be brought by the Dong Fang Chartered Flights.

“China market is picking up. February is a good gauge for the market’s come back, starting with the Chinese New Year,” said Olalo in an interview.

Hauri said that Cebu hotels are generally preparing for the Chinese market rebound.

“We are ready to welcome back our friends from China to show them why ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines.’ There will be the Xin Nien Festival at Ayala Center Cebu to celebrate Chinese new year, the start of the water snake,” he said adding that HRRAC-member hotels make special efforts to decorate their lobbies with the traditional colors of red and gold.

“Marco Polo is adding firecrackers, lion-dance, ushering out dragon and welcoming the snake, tossing of the Yee sang for prosperity, sharing red packets/laycees and all the delicacies of the occasion at the Cafe Marco Buffet,” added Hauri.

Prior to the travel ban of the Republic of China government against the Philippines middle of this year, due to “territorial dispute,  the DOT has announced its plan to attract considerable number of Chinese tourist getting a bigger chunk of the 88 million Chinese who are expected to travel outside of their country in the next four years.

According to DOT, the Philippines is counting the Chinese market as one of the top growth drivers for tourism arrivals in the Philippines, while it has seen a significant turn-around of arrivals from China in the last few months. (FREEMAN)

http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/01/25/900950/cebu-tourism-players-brace-chinese-market-rebound

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Regular Cebu-Guangzhou charter flights set

CEBU, Philippines -  Strained diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines may be slowly thawing with the re-introduction of regular charter flights established between the cities of Cebu and Guangzhou within this month.

Starting January 24, 2013, Air Philippines proudly launches its Cebu-Guangzhou flights every Thursday and Sunday; leaving the Mactan airport at 9 pm and arriving at the Chinese city at 11:30 pm. From Guangzhou, the plane departs 12:05 am and lands in Cebu at 2:35 am.

These charter flights will be set at a year-round basis in anticipation of the rising potentials of the Chinese market which seek novel and exciting destinations within the Asian continent.

In addition, Philippine Air Lines has also finalized its daily charter flights between Cebu and Hong Kong from February 10-16, 2013 in commemoration of the Chinese New Year festivities to be feted at selected hotels in the city. 

Passengers aboard the Hong Kong flight originally come from mainland China which utilise Hong Kong as an alternative connecting point to Cebu.

Cathay Pacific will also block off a certain number of seats which have been specially reserved for the Chinese visitors.

These unexpectedly upbeat developments will surely give cheer to the tourism stakeholders in the region since this will serve as a fitting carry-over of tourism arrivals from the Sinulog to the Chinese New Year.

Better yet, Cebu will serve as a jump-off point to other cities and provinces such as Manila, Bohol, Davao, and Boracay in order to share the tourism pie with other visitor hotbeds in the country.

To recall, charter flights between Cebu and Guangzhou were halted for ten months last year due to heated claims of ownership of China and the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal in the Pacific Ocean.  

Though the ban on flights was lifted last October 2012, negotiations for flight resumption as well as market response has been relatively modest due to the hangover of emotions over the controversial marine property.

“We are doubling our efforts in promoting selected Philippine destinations to the Chinese market. Though feedback was not as positive as before, we feel that we have more than done our part in regaining the trust and confidence of the Chinese,” related Alan Dino, senior vice president of Dong Fang Philippines Leisure Corp.

He acknowledged the role of the Department of Tourism in providing government support in backing up Dong Fang so as to jumpstart the DOT’s targeted number of Chinese arrivals for the year.

This serves as a wake-up call for the DOT, he reiterated, as we embark on a bold move to introduce the tourism attractions and accommodations to the Chinese, our fastest-growing and the world’s most lucrative market.

Likewise, Dong Fang salutes the DOT’s “It’s more fun…” campaign as lively in its approach to several facets in everyday living in the archipelago and unique humorous twists in concept.

Dong Fang also deems it wise to take on a more proactive stance and go on the offensive rather than wait for market feedback. In doing so, the company hopes to create momentum and support from the leading tourism stakeholders for more coordinated efforts and synergy from both the public and the private sectors.

Yet another encouraging development was the fact that the Philippines was named as “Most Romantic Destination” by the Shanghai Morning Post based on a consumer survey as indicated on a front page story of a recent Philippine Star issue.

This may be traced to idyllic Boracay which has long attracted visitors from all over the globe who couldn’t simply get enough of the unique sand quality and the breezy setting; thus garnering several acclaims as the world’s best beach over the years.     

The Philippines was also named “Best Tourist Destination” last January 9, 2013 by the Oriental Morning Post during its annual World Travel-Special Trip Awards.

 Such awards were deemed most timely to complement global accolades and praise due the Philippines for its glowing socio-economic factors such as a strong peso, the healthiest stock market in Asia, topnotcher in economic growth in Asia, and favorable ratings for its top national government officials. 

Dong Fang is a real estate developer and a tourism and leisure company with offices both in Cebu and Guangzhou which has spearheaded efforts in luring in the Chinese market to Cebu and other Philippine destination for the past seven years.  (FREEMAN)

http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/01/25/900953/regular-cebu-guangzhou-charter-flights-set

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Mactan Island, Cebu Developments

Amisa Private Residences' aerial photo for the 3 of 6 tower condominium complex.Currently, it has 6 hectare master planned development with 210 meters beach front with hotel and entertainment center components. According to information, adjacent lot with an area of approximately 3.5 hectare was acquired as an addition to the estate and will expand the area to 9.5 hectares with an aggregate beach frontage of approximately 350 meters. Beach development will start within the quarter and tower C will start its turn over by 4th quarter of 2013, a year ahead of original schedule which is 2014.

Mactan Island, Cebu along Barangay Mactan and Punta Engano showing upbeat development. This will be the next "leisure and retirement district" in the future

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Cebu takes off as second-home destination

CEBU, Philippines - Even with less promotion here and abroad, Cebu has taken off as the “second home” destination both for Filipinos and foreigners.

Cebu Investments and Promotions Center (CIPC) managing director Joel Mari S. Yu said Cebu has arrived in terms of positioning as “second-home” destination, considering the fast turn-over of residential products not only in the urban areas in the province, but also in the outskirts or countryside.

According to Yu, Cebu has benefited from the previous programs launched by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the “Live Your Dream” campaign, which was aimed to encourage Filipinos working and residing in other countries, as well as foreigners not just to visit the Philippines, but to make the country as their “second home.”

Although, the program was not sustained due to changed of leadership, Yu said Cebu has slowly reaping the results of the campaign, also attributing the developers’ and brokers’ support for the positioning in joining the promotion to make Cebu as “second home” choice in last few years.

Led by the strong interest from OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) from all over the country, the Cebu’s real estate, especially the residential segment has been selling like “hot cakes.”

Yu said this phenomenon of residential real estate boom, will continue as millions of OFWs are now smarter, and putting their hard-earned money in good investment instruments, like real estate.

 According to Yu, there are only two places in the Philippines that have a grip on OFWs real estate investment—Manila and Cebu. While, Manila is also considered as “saturated,” Cebu is a better alternative for “home” investment option.

Yu echoed other economists’ outlook that Cebu’s real estate sector is far from experiencing a bubble.

Yu said that it is not only the “Pinoys” from other provinces, or those working abroad want to have a home in Cebu, but also wealthy foreigners who are lured to the tropical and charming ambiance of Cebu which is an “urban resort.”

Five years down the road, investments in real estate is seen to double or triple in value, Yu said.

In order to sustain its economic growth, Cebu has to invite more people from other provinces to live here.

For this reason, CIPC recently announced its plan to craft an effective program to lure non-Cebuanos to invest and make Cebu as their top second-home destination, to intensify the attractiveness of Cebu in this area.

Though, Cebu is on this track already, it has to strengthen its promotion in order to cope with the robust growth, Yu said  adding that Cebu should move on capitalizing intensively its attractive livability, which offers a very wide range of living facilities from condominiums, full-service apartments, townhouses, and stand-alone residential units.

 “All rich people in Manila have properties in Tagaytay. We should [further] convince people in Manila and in Visayas and Mindanao to make Cebu as their second home,” Yu said.

Cebu as a tropical island that has over 700 kilometers coastline, with average temperature of 22 to 23 degrees celsius  a storm-free island paradise—assuring year-round swimming and golfing weather, endless potential for other leisure activities  while access is made convenient by an international airport and sea port is good enough to attract both local and foreign property investors.

 Besides, he said Cebu is considered as among the safest cities in Asia as attested by low crime rates and high crime resolution statistics.

It is expected that with this development, in the near term, Cebu is seen as a place follow the steps of Paris, Hawaii, Spain, and other famous second home destinations in the world, while property developers now are the right building infrastructure to support this. (FREEMAN) 

http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/01/24/900566/cebu-takes-second-home-destination

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