Uniting the Strongest Foundations at PHILBEX 2016

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Rallying behind the importance of unity in its pursuit of national progress, PHILBEX Cebu 2016 assumes the theme of “Uniting Strong Foundations” as it gathers the best and most influential players of the region’s construction and design industry in an all-inclusive trade exhibition. The highly anticipated event is slated to happen on September 15 to 18, from 10AM to 8PM at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall.

Hailed as the furniture capital of the Philippines, Cebu not only accounts for a significant percentage of the Philippine exports but also for bringing much pride and honor to the country for its distinct design ingenuity which continuously garners the respect and recognition of the international design scene. In line with this, taking center stage at this year’s PHILBEX Cebu are the Interior Designer’s Gallery and Architect’s Gallery which aims to promote the distinct and unique facets of the region’s design industry by featuring personalities that have collectively contributed to the development of Cebu’s construction and design industry.

READ MORE: http://bit.ly/2cT4RPG

Source: Cebu Daily News

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 

Source

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

Disclaimer

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

Disclaimer

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)

Disclaimer

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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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

Disclaimer
Inputs and descriptions herein are subject to verification and perspectives are "only" the writer's point of view and initial information gathered and known.

Cebu tourism logs ‘vibrant’ year

Monday, December 31, 2012

THE past 12 months have been vibrant for Cebu’s tourism industry. Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director Rowena Montecillo said that as of September, Cebu recorded 1.7 million in tourist arrivals, up 11.07 percent from the 1.5 million tourists recorded in 2011.

Foreign arrivals to Cebu increased by 13.65 percent while domestic arrivals went up 9.26 percent. DOT 7 is expecting to hit two million tourist arrivals by yearend of 2012.

The relatively stable Asian markets and the combination of increased tourist arrivals and additional rooms were among the growth drivers of the industry this year, according to Hotels, Resort and Restaurants Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Hans Hauri.

Cebu Pacific, on the other hand, credited the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign as among the key factors that fueled growth in the industry this year.

“The new ‘wind in the sails’ provided by the tourism campaign speaks directly to the rest-and-recreation-seekers, backed by a tourism product that is inviting, attractive, varied and definitely a proposition to return again to first-time travelers,” said Hauri.

The relative stability of Asia as a marketplace also influenced the growth of the industry. Statistics showed Asia tourists leading arrivals, specifically from Japan, which logged a 24.46 percent growth; Korea, 8.90 percent; and China, 16.33 percent.

Occupancy

Hauri said the 61 percent average occupancy across Cebu shows the stability of the sector. Room supply increased by 11 percent in 2012. Hauri said they expect a 10 percent increase this year with 500 more rooms being built. Cebu City has 141 hotels with 9,335 rooms.

The completion of the 500 rooms is expected to generate up to 5,000 new jobs for Cebuanos, tourism officials said.

Aside from new hotels, Montecillo said new products were also put in place to provide additional attractions.

These include Papa Kit’s Marina and Fishing Lagoon in Liloan, Danasan Eco-Adventure Park in Danao City and the Gabii sa Kabilin or Night of Heritage organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. which are generating buzz for being family- and group-oriented recreational activities. Cebu companies also diversified their businesses and ventured into tourism after seeing its potential as a revenue generator.

An example of this is the newly opened Lakwatsa Resto Lounge, which promotes cultural nightlife in Cebu, by couple Wilson and Melanie Ng of Ng Khai Development Corp.

Hauri, who is the vice president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines for the Visayas, said the airlines were the ones “spearheading the initiatives to drive new business opportunities.”

DOT 7’s Cebu Sales Missions to Singapore and Malaysia led to opening of Cebu Pacific’s new direct route from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Bangkok, Thailand.

New additional flight from Cebu to Incheon, Korea via Jeju Air has also helped increase arrivals.

“Cebu remains to be one of the top Philippine destinations, for leisure and business travel,” said Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog.

Cebu Pacific flew close to 9.8 million passengers as of September.

Hauri said key drivers for corporate travels are the IT-BPO industry, banking and
financial services, manufacturing, trading and education.

Pharmaceutical and insurance industries were also the key drivers for Cebu’s Meetings,
Incentive, Conference and Exhibitions (MICE) business.

Montecillo said her office also worked with various government agencies, including Department of Public Works and Highways for tourism roads infrastructure; Department of Science and Technology for livelihood projects; Department of Trade and Industry for the improvement of the tourism value chain; Philippine National Police for the Tourism Oriented Police for Community Project; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for the preservation of protected areas; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for the training of tourism frontliners; Cebu Ports Authority for the proposed DOT satellite office in some ports; and the Commission on Higher Education and Department of Education on educational tours.

Airport expansion

The government, under its public-private partnership program, also opened the bidding for the P8-billion expansion of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Conglomerates like Ayala Corp. and Aboitiz Equity Ventures; Metro Pacific Investment Corp. and San Miguel Corp. have expressed interest in joining the bidding.

Hauri, however, cautioned that challenges still remained. The China market, which logged strong arrivals during the first four months of the year, plunged following the conflict over Spratly’s Island.

“It brought the market to a literal standstill,” said Hauri. But he said the decline was offset by increased arrivals from Japan and Korea

The decline of Chinese tourists also affected tourism sub-sectors such as Cebu’s spa industry, according to Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu (Swac) president Johnny Siao.

“This problem with China resulted in a substantial decline of spa customers,” said Siao, noting that Chinese tourists are among Cebu spas’ top clients as they come in bigger groups.

“We truly hope that politics might be put aside and the resumption of a normal flow of travelers can be envisaged,” said Hauri.

In 2012, Qatar Airways suspended direct flights to Cebu because of rising cost and high operating expenses. It was the only link to markets in Europe and Middle East.

Montecillo, however, reported there was no significant impact on arrivals from Europe.

Air rights

Iyog identified limited air rights between countries; the existence of Common Carriers Tax (CCT) or Gross Philippine Billings Tax; and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Category 2 status and International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) Significant Safety Concern as some of the unresolved industry issues that continue to limit the growth of the industry.

“Expansion or growth is not just about the physical infrastructure but it also refers to air rights between countries. If the air rights between countries are limited then so are the potential clients,” said Iyog.

She said that if the country targets 10 million tourists by 2016, it would need 15 million seats in terms of entitlements. On the other hand, the existence of CCT could “turn away” airline companies. The elevation of air safety status to Category 1 would also allow local carriers to expand operations in other foreign countries.

Philippine Airlines is hopeful that the Category 2 safety status will be upgraded to Category 1 by this year so it could start serving New York City and other major cities in Europe.

Hauri said they want to increase foreign tourist arrivals who are big spenders as they would drive income of people in the industry.

“To that end, we need more air connections from major areas like Europe, the USA as well as Russia,” he said.

Cebu is seen to strengthen its position as the no. 2 airport in the country but s facing challenges from other secondary airports like Iloilo, Bacolod, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro and Caticlan, which are all vying for international connections.

DOT 7 is projecting 2.6 million to 2.8 million tourist arrivals in Cebu by 2013.

“We have all the right instruments in place to make 2013 a better year,” said Hauri.

He referred to growth drivers like air connections, rooms supply, value-rates, promotions campaigns, working committees on improving infrastructure, tourism-focused policies and experienced workforce.

Hauri said recent purchases of new aircrafts by airline companies add capacity to the market. Iyog said Cebu Pacific is planning to grow its Cebu hub this year with the delivery of seven new Airbus A320 units.

DOT 7 is also preparing for a number of international cruise ships to visit Cebu and Bohol and the visit of 500 Japanese English as Second Language (ESL) students for a familiarization tour in Cebu by 2013. She said this will be the first of a series of familiarization tours of ESL students from Osaka, Japan.:

Source: Sunstar Daily