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CEBU CITY, Philippines – Its goal of improving tourism in Cebu may be commendable, but the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tourism caravan of the Cebu provincial government may ultimately be ineffective, according to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
The mayor said the towns and cities that participate in the tourism caravan often spend so much to prepare for the caravan’s visit, but end up serving only very few tourists.
“For 200 visitors... some of these towns spend as much as P300,000,” the mayor said. “I don’t know how they can sustain this.”
The mayor, however, admitted that for the tourists, the Suroy-Suroy allows them to get the best out of their money, while the participating local governments get training on how to welcome tourists.
“It’s a good training experience for the towns,” Osmeña said.
The mayor, however, questioned some elements of how the caravan is handled, especially the exposure given to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in the caravan.
“It’s turning out to be ego tripping on the part of the governor,” Osmeña said.
He said this element may bring the caravan into the wrong direction.
If the Suroy-Suroy were to continue in this direction, it would flop, according to Osmeña.
He said the Capitol’s One Cebu trade exhibit this Friday at the Cebu International Convention Center may be headed in the same direction as well.
One Cebu aims to bring together products, souvenirs delicacies and other items from the different towns and cities of Cebu to a single venue. It is part of the provincial government’s 439th founding anniversary celebration this week.
Osmeña said the trade exhibit lacks the focus that investors look for.
“When you are a buyer, you look for a place that sells the product that you want, like furniture shows or car shows,” he said.
The trade show, the mayor said, would only serve to show off a mixture of the province’s products with little sales to show for it.
The trade exhibit will be held on the same day as the Governor’s Ball, another event of the founding anniversary.
Most Cebu City officials have received invitations to the event. While the mayor is on the guest list, he said he has not received his invite yet.
Osmeña, however, said that it did not matter to him if he was invited or not.
