Why Cebu has much to look forward to in the coming year…

THERE IS MUCH TO LOOK forward to when it comes to Cebu’s tourism prospects for 2023. Despite the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette, the city’s tourism stakeholders persevered, pivoted and persisted.

When the country’s borders were still closed, local entrepreneurs shifted focus onto the local market and introduced new tourism products that were allowed to operate. A great example of this is the Cebu Highlands Corridor – which quickly expanded and evolved to meet the demand for fresh experiences in the serene peaks and valleys of the island’s central spine.

When travel restrictions were finally eased in early 2022, Cebuanos had the gargantuan task of not only rebuilding human capacity for services but also the physical facilities that were wiped out during Odette. Fortunately, the transition to the new Marcos administration in the middle of last year was peaceful and the early policy decisions and political appointments were sanguine, steadfast and sophisticated.

Tourism was quickly emphasized as a pillar for post-COVID recovery with our very own Christina

Frasco being appointed to lead the charge as the Secretary of the DOT. Many initiatives were quickly launched to promote the country, improve

tourism infrastructure, refine the Filipino service and experience brand in addition to numerous longer term cross-cutting endeavors involving other national government agencies. As of this writing, the Philippine DOT was just named by Routes Asia as the winner in the Destination category for its persistent efforts to promote the country and to and in partnering with airports and airlines to reinstate discontinued routes and secure new air services. Mactan Cebu International Airport was also named the best gateway in the under five million annual capacity category.

These new accolades were in addition to the many awards that were garnered in 2022 by both the Philippines as a country and Cebu as an island. Equally important are the number of foreign tourists that are returning to visit with 2022 arrival numbers exceeding initial targets by

close to 60%. For 2023, the DOT is aiming for a near-doubling of last year’s results to 5 million foreign arrivals.

Cebu is expected to even exceed national projections as more airlines are currently servicing the Mactan Cebu International Airport than before the pandemic. 

The Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) has also been extremely active in introducing new events and have just released an impressive slate of activities for 2023 which encompass every single month of the year. The city is also poised to increase it’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) capacity as the much anticipated NUSTAR Resort and Casino Convention and Banquet facilities open in the first half of 2023. The redevelopment of the Carbon Market is also well underway with interim facilities already delighting thousands.

The first-ever National Museum in Cebu City is also set to open in the first half of the year. Multiple smaller scale developments have also recently launched or will be debuting very soon that will only enhance the city’s inventory of venues and experiences. 

While overall tourism revenues may not return to pre-pandemic levels until sometime in 2024, the combination of sound national and local policy, competent and visionary leadership, improving and consistent demand and the Cebuanos’ tenacious CAN DO attitude should usher in a new tourism golden age for our much-loved island.