A private sector-driven travel sales mission to Singapore is scheduled from August 26 to 28 this year, an initiative spearheaded by the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) and the Cebu Association of Tour Operation Specialists (CATOS).
The three-day mission will involve interactive sessions with top-producing travel agents, MICE and leisure organisers, and tour wholesalers in Singapore. The highlight of the mission will be a full-day product presentation and B2B session in a vibrant travel mart atmosphere.
The mission aims to showcase Cebu’s diverse offerings, including its pristine beaches, vibrant dive sites, adventurous activities, culinary delights, and rich cultural heritage. Special focus will be placed on Cebu’s new attractions, high-tech convention centres, and integrated entertainment resorts, all designed to appeal to Singapore’s robust family leisure and MICE market.
The cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, along with the Department of Tourism Region 7, have been invited to support and participate in this sales mission. This collaboration aims to strengthen Cebu’s tourism appeal and establish it as a premier destination for Singaporean travellers.
Selrahco Management and Consultancy president and CEO, Charles Lim, who is assisting the sales mission, said they have also reached out to Mactan Cebu International Airport as it is the hub for tourists to Cebu and the gateway to most destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao, including Boracay, Siargao, Davao, Bacolod and Iloilo.
A Singaporean who was at one time the Special Tourism Envoy for ASEAN under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Lim settled down in Cebu over 25 years ago after working for Singapore Airlines – the first foreign airline that started a regular commercial flight linking Singapore to Cebu 34 years ago.
“Singapore is a big potential market for Cebu. It is currently the biggest source of our arrivals from South-east Asia and we hope to build it up further,” explained Alfred Reyes, president of HRRAC.
“There are three airlines operating no less than 21 flights a week as of today between our two cities,” added Reyes. “That speaks a lot by itself. We need to further promote our destination to the Singaporeans.”
CATOS president Alice Quiblatin shared: “The Cebu product of sun and sand, diving and adventure, food and shopping has always been an attraction, based firmly on our heritage and culture.
“Today, we have several new products from theme parks to convention facilities and an integrated entertainment resort. This opens up more markets for us and we know Singapore’s family leisure and MICE market is very strong.”
