The Department of Tourism (DOT) reassures international travel partners that Cebu remains open for tourism.
While recent events—including Super Typhoon Uwan, widespread flooding from Typhoon Tino, and the magnitude 6.9 earthquake off the coast of Bogo City—caused localized impacts, core tourism zones and gateways are operational.
“Your continued visits sustain jobs, restore livelihoods, and help communities get back on their feet.”
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said: “Cebu’s spirit of hospitality remains steadfast. We welcome our guests as we continue coordinated recovery in localized areas—your continued visits sustain jobs, restore livelihoods, and help communities get back on their feet. Together with our partners, we will keep Cebu ready, and open for the world.”
“We invite our partners to proceed with planned visits and inaugural flights to Cebu. We acknowledge that a few groups have chosen to defer travel, and we stand ready to help them rebook and adjust itineraries,” Frasco stressed.
“Together we will turn recovery into renewed growth.”
“Our foremost commitment is safety; our message is confidence. Cebu is moving forward, our gateways and core tourism areas are open, and together we will turn recovery into renewed growth,” she stressed.
The DOT clarifies that high-traffic areas such as Cebu City’s business districts and the primary resort corridors on Mactan Island remain open. Impacts have been concentrated in select northern municipalities and low-lying barangays, as well as parts of Camotes.
To reinforce Cebu’s position as a premier international gateway after the calamities, the DOT continues to strengthen the province’s global connectivity through sustained partnerships and market-development initiatives.
Joint promotional campaigns with leading carriers have widened Cebu’s reach in key foreign markets, while familiarization trips for international travel trade, roadshows in priority source countries, and active participation in major global tourism exhibitions have continued as planned.
Cebu’s international and domestic lift for the fourth quarter of the year is supported by new and returning routes, including: Firefly (KUL–CEB) Dec 2, Jetstar (PER–MNL) Nov 27, Jetstar (BNE–CEB) Dec 3, Vietnam Airlines (HAN–CEB) Dec 2, VietJet (SGN–MNL) Nov 22, AirAsia (CEB-KUL) and (CEB-MFM) Nov 15, and PAL (CEB–GUM) Dec 16.
While some partners have opted to defer activities in light of recent events, the DOT is assisting with rebooking and itinerary adjustments where needed.
The DOT reports that temporary site closures and flight cancellations following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino, affected approximately 1,400 tourism workers.
