CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Tourism stakeholders in Cebu are optimistic about the performance of the country’s tourism sector this 2012, as local players prepare to iron out projects and activities designed to spur more arrivals in the province.

“We will continue to see more tourism-related investments pouring into Cebu, particularly in terms of the number of quality room accommodations here,” said Islands Group President Jay Aldeguer. “Employment in the hospitality industry will also increase as there will be more people needed once new hotels and condotels open.”

Aldeguer noted a marked interest among investors in tourism currently. “Exporters are entering into this profitable and sustainable business; even those who are not directly in tourism are now starting to put their money in the sector,” he said.

Aldeguer said by laying down the right foundations, such as offering more attractions, providing more room accommodations and enhancing existing tourism packages, Cebu can eventually increase its visitor arrivals in significant numbers.

“Cebu must continue to innovate and we Cebuanos should not not rest on our laurels just because we are the country’s top tourist destination today. We must continue to be an exciting destination that repeat visitors shall continue to visit,” he stressed.

Both private and public sectors in the province vow they will strengthen their partnership to develop not only new attractions in Cebu but also to inculcate a culture of tourism in the countryside.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Samuel Chioson said the Chamber will continue to work with the Cebu provincial government in sustaining the “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo” program by introducing a complementary project dubbed “Serbisyo Tourism.”

The latter program is aimed at pushing the promotion of countryside tourism by helping towns in Cebu to maximize the sector’s wealth as well as improve economic activities in remote areas

Part of the plan is to tap the academe sector and involve students in tourism-related courses to take their OJT (on-the-job) training in various towns in Cebu, helping the municipalities and private sector stakeholders to promote tourist-oriented products and services.

Chioson said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has already committed to support the project. She has, in fact, already said she will act in providing new transportation facilities in each municipality to service visiting tourists.

For his part, Cebu Business Club (CBC) president Gordon Alan Joseph said the CBC will revisit Cebu’s tourism master-plan, a move backed by large business chamber groups in Cebu starting this month so as to reinforce the province’s tourism advantage.