Cebu’s Hospitality, Tourism Sector Gain from APEC Meetings, Says Tourism Official

(PIA) — Cebu province’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings this year is bringing economic and job benefits to its hospitality and tourism industries, as well as its small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a tourism official has said.

“We are expecting 2,300 delegates. The minimum expenditure of one APEC delegate, excluding the accommodation, is about $100 a day,” Department of Tourism Region 7 Director Rowena Montecillo said during a press briefing here Tuesday.

Montecillo said her office tour desk has reported 49 tours for some 107 delegates, who spent an average of P2,500 to P3,000 per person.

“That will be P250,000 to P300,000 sales for our tour consortium until yesterday (Monday),” she said.

Montecillo said local tourism enterprises are gaining directly and indirectly from the APEC meetings.

“Some of the hotels, especially the four venue hotels, will have to hire additional people to assist them when it comes to housekeeping, serving (waiters) and other frontline services,” she said.

Moreover, the tourism official said, local producers are gaining sales from APEC delegates.

The exhibit dubbed as ‘Exquisitely Filipino,’ featuring the province’s fashion accessories, furniture and office and home furnishings, among others, is ongoing at SM Cebu.

“I think the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) is expanding the trade hall. There will be additional 20 to 30 more suppliers,” Montecillo added. (PCOO/PNA (ldv)