Cebu top business, tourism hub

By MALUM NALU
 

Cebu City, where Air Niugini is commencing twice weekly flights, is the oldest city in the Philippines.

Filipino dancers welcoming the PNG delegation to Cebu on Monday night

It is part of Cebu, a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands.

Cebu is one of the most-developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the main centre of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas.

IT Park, Cebu City, a place of great shopping, cafes and restaurants

 Condé Nast Traveler Magazine named Cebu the 7th best island destination in the Indian Ocean-Asia region in 2007, 8th best Asian-Pacific island destination in 2005, 7th in 2004 and in 2009.

A colourful jeepney along the streets of Cebu City

 It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands. Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225 kilometers from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighbouring, smaller islands, which include Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport, where Air Niugini is flying to, is located in Mactan Island, and is the second busiest airport in the Philippines after Manila.

The Air Niugini Boeing 737 being welcomed at Cebu City Mactan International Airport on Monday night

Cebu businessman Mel Oplimo, who has business links with PNG, said Air Niugini could not go wrong as Cebu was the business and tourism hub of the Phillipines.

Ayala Centre, one of the biggest shopping malls in the Philippines

“We enjoy the splendor and beauty of Cebu,”he told The National in Cebu.

“Cebu is known for its semi-conductor industry, furniture industry, shipping, travel and tourism.

Oplimo (right), me and video cameraman Tapusi Kone outside the Ayala Centre mall

“Cebu is known as a rest and recreation area and most entrepreneurs and Chinese tycoons come from Cebu.

“Cebu is known as a tourism hub.

“It has been declared as one of the best destinations for tourism in Asia because of its pristine white beaches and hotel services.”