A number of tourist spots in Cebu, the Philippines remain closed until further notice following the intensity 6.9 earthquake on the night of September 30, 2025, which has claimed 70 lives as of press time. The tremor was also felt in Bohol, Leyte and Negros Oriental.
Tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said that 80 tourism establishments, 21 site attractions, 36 accommodation and 23 other related infrastructures in Cebu were damaged to varying degrees.
Also affected are 711 tourism workers, including staff from hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, transport services and related enterprises.
A travel agent said that while September to mid-October is lean season in the Philippines, the full impact of the earthquake on Cebu’s inbound tourism from mid-October onwards will be known shortly.
Frasco said 15 tourists were stranded in Cebu: one in Bogo City – the quake’s epicentre – eight in neighbouring San Remigio and six in Santa Fe.
Of the 15 tourists, eight have checked out and travelled to Cebu City, while six extended their stay in Bantayan Island in Santa Fe. The Department of Tourism (DoT) Central Visayas Office (Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental) is facilitating the transfer of foreign guests in Bogo City to another accommodation within the area.
In an advisory yesterday (October 1), DoT Central Visayas noted tourist sites and establishments that remain closed to the public until further notice. In Cebu province, these include seven churches with varying degrees of damage, as well as the Medellin tourist rest area.
Temporarily closed in Cebu City are The Kabilin Centre, Museo Sugbo, National Museum of the Philippines Cebu, Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House and Casa Gorordo.
In Bohol, Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis and the National Museum of the Philippines in Tagbilaran City are closed for structural inspection.
Several hotels have issued public advisories stating they were unaffected by the earthquake and continue to welcome guests, including Bluewater Maribago and Bluewater Sumilon in Cebu, Bluewater Panglao in Bohol, and Red Planet Cebu.
Nustar Resort and Casino announced it had resumed hotel, dining and gaming operations yesterday after a thorough safety check. The same applies to other hotels of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts and Bai Hotel Cebu.
Radisson Blu in Cebu, which was hosting the Miss Asia Pacific International 2025 gala night when the earthquake struck, was commended by the beauty pageant organiser for its “swift and professional response in implementing safety measures during the tremor”.
