[ Manila Bulletin Online ] October 8, 2008
By MALOU M. MOZO
MACTAN ISLAND, Cebu – Cebu never seems to run out of new tourism packages to offer to its foreign visitors.
Cebu Province, particularly Mactan Island, is now being positioned by the Department of Tourism (DoT) to be the primary wedding destination in the Philippines.
Tourism Secretary Ace Durano bared this new development recently following the DoT’s aggressive campaign to promote adventure tourism here.
Now, Cebu has been tapped to lead the Philippines in marketing the country as the premier wedding capital of Asia.
"Cebu to the foreign market is famous for its beaches and resorts. It’s mainly for leisure travelers. It will soon become the wedding and honeymoon center of the Philippines. Even besting Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore," Durano said in an interview.
He cited the five-star resort-hotels here that have already established their market in beach wedding ceremonies and reception, such as the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa, Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, and Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.
He said Shangri-La Mactan has built a wedding chapel called "Ocean Pavilion" that caters primarily to the increasing number of foreign and local guests, while holding the wedding reception also in the resort.
In addition, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa hosted an underwater wedding ceremony last year.
While city-based hotels like Marco Polo Cebu, Waterfront Cebu City Hotels and Casino, among others, are also providing facilities for city-garden wedding ceremonies for both local and foreign couples.
This early, Durano is encouraging local wedding coordinators to now capitalize on this new tourism development by partnering with travel operators and tour guides.
Durano said Cebu, as a wedding destination, will first be marketed to the revitalized Japanese market, as the DoT will closely work with the Japanese Association of Travel Agents to push this new campaign during the biggest travel fair in Japan.
While most Japanese are Buddhist in religion, the younger generation is seeking for some "adventure" in their wedding memories, said Durano, and holding ceremonies outside of their country is proving to be an exciting escapade for Japanese lovers.
Although wedding ceremonies here are done traditionally following the Christian or Catholic way, he said Japanese couples are attracted to the ceremony itself, regardless of the religion.
