Cebu remains open for tourism despite calamities, DOT assures

Even after being struck once again by a major catastrophe — the massive, deadly flooding brought about by Super Typhoon Tino last week, following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked the province — the Cebuano spirit will not falter and will continue to rise, ready to welcome both foreign and local tourists. This was the assurance given by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

On Tuesday, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco assured international travel partners that Cebu remains open for tourism.

“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,” said Frasco.

Frasco also encouraged travel 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. 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 said.

The DOT clarified that high-traffic areas such as Cebu City’s business districts and 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 expanded Cebu’s reach in key foreign markets, while familiarization tours for travel trade, roadshows, and participation in major international tourism events are ongoing.

Cebu’s fourth-quarter international and domestic lift is supported by new and returning routes, including Firefly (KUL–CEB) on Dec. 2, Jetstar (PER–MNL) on Nov. 27, Jetstar (BNE–CEB) on Dec. 3, Vietnam Airlines (HAN–CEB) on Dec. 2, VietJet (SGN–MNL) on Nov. 22, AirAsia (CEB–KUL and CEB–MFM) on Nov. 15, and PAL (CEB–GUM) on Dec. 16. The DOT is assisting partners who have opted to defer activities with rebooking and itinerary adjustments.

The DOT said around 1,400 tourism workers were affected by temporary site closures and flight cancellations following Typhoon Tino.