CEBU, PHILIPPINES. Rekindle the love that you always had every time you hear the word Cebu. Remember the time when you first encountered the whale sharks in Oslob and did the sardines run diving in Moalboal? The savory taste of Lechon de Cebu (roasted suckling pig), chicharron (pork rind), and dried fish and fruits. Memories with your family when you visited centuries old churches in Carcar and Boljoon. Sand on your feet, salt on your skin when you swim on the pristine beaches in Camotes and Bantayan. The wonder of the underwater during your island hopping in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu. Lastly the party, rave, and faith related activities during the annual celebration of the queen of all festivals, the Sinulog. You will never run out of reasons not to come back to Cebu.
Campaign & Rationale
I <3 CEBU is a sustained campaign to bring back the tourism to Cebu. This is a private-sector (DOT accredited hotels, resorts, tour operators, and travel agents) led initiative project to help revive the travel industry, one year after the nationwide lockdown.
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused global economic distress and the tourism sector has been experiencing devastating setbacks. The hospitality, tourism and aviation are the most hardly hit industries where the revenues reached all-time lowest. The leisure travel has been banned since March of 2020 and the entire island of Cebu closed it borders to travelers which resulted to the shutdown of most of the tourism establishments like resorts, restaurants, attractions, etc.
Furthermore, Project I <3 CEBU (ILC) includes an online platform voucher selling for participating DOT-accredited hotels, tour operators, travel agents, in the whole island of Cebu.
Part of the year-round activities is a roadshow in June in Visayas and Mindanao. Once the “Cebu Bubble” is formed, foreign wholesalers will be hosted sometime in October. As Christmas and Sinulog comes nearer, another on-line sale will be held in November to encourage more bookings. Capping the campaign is a “Visit Cebu” campaign that will be launched in January of 2022.
Objectives
As tourism, with focus on customer service as the main economic driver of Cebu, the campaign aims to encourage safe travel that will jumpstart the recovery process. It also wants to provide an online selling platform for consumers for hotels, resorts, and tour operators in Cebu by offering the best accommodation, transportation, and tour package rates. More so, revive the popularity of Cebu as one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the Philippines for both business and leisure. Last but not least, it supports the “Wake-up in the Philippines” campaign of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and Department of Tourism (DOT) through destination marketing and sell of experiential packages.
Online Sale Mechanics
From March 21 to April 30, 2021, a consumer can purchase vouchers from the participating hotels, resorts, and tour operators thru this link: https://traveloco.ph/ilovecebu . Vouchers are valid until April 30, 2022 subject to terms and conditions per participating establishment.
Participating Establishments
Alpa City Suites, Amethyst Boutique Hotel Cebu, Bai Hotel Cebu, Bayfront Hotel Cebu, BE Resort Mactan, Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort, Bluewater Sumilon, Cebu Grand Hotel , Cebu Hotel Plus, Cebu Palm Grass Hotel, Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Cebu White Sands Resort & spa, Citadines Cebu City, Citi Park Hotel, Costabella Tropical Beach Hotel, Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan, Diamond Hotel and Club Serena, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, Golden Prince Hotel, Goldberry Suites & Hotel Mactan and Cebu, Harolds Hotels,Hotel Elizabeth Cebu, JPark Island Resort &Waterpark Mactan Cebu, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Mezzo Hotel, North Sky Beach, One Central Hotel & Suites, OYO Hotels (Oslob, Sta. Fe, Bantayan, Moalboal, Pacific Cebu Resort, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Quest Hotel & Conference Center Cebu, Radisson Blu Cebu, Red Planet Hotels, Sarrosa International Hotel, Savoy Hotel Mactan, SEDA Central Block and Ayala Cebu, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Solea Hotel and Resorts, Solea Hotels & Resorts, St. Catherine Boutique Hotel, Summit Galleria Cebu, Tambuli Beach Resort, Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Also included are the following tour operators and agents. Destination Specialists Cebu Inc., Divaishnavi Int’l Inc., Evasion Tropicale Tours & Travel, Experience More Travel Specialists Inc., First United Travel Inc, Funtastic Travel & Tours Inc., Global Link Travel and Tours, Golden JC Holiday Travel, Grand Hope Travel Inc., Green Earth Tours and Travel Inc., iTRAVEL iEXPLORE Tours & Services, Land and Sky Travel Service, Inc., PTN Travel Corporation, Rivergate Transport Services, Southwind Travel & Tours, Travel with Southwind Inc, Sun Travel and Tours Corporation, TravelServices Inc, Travelite Travel and Tours Co., Wander Lanes Travel Co. Inc.
Presenters and Supporters
I <3 Cebu would like to thank the Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Province of Cebu, City of Lapu-Lapu, City of Mandaue, and City of Cebu. Hotels, Resorts, and Restaurants Association Cebu Inc. (HRRACI), Cebu Alliance of Tour Operation Specialists Inc. (CATOS), Mactan Cebu Airport and Philippine Airlines.
Be a responsible traveler. Always remember the minimum public health safety standards. Frequent washing of hands, wearing of facemask, observe social distancing, and proper sneezing or coughing etiquette. Do not forget to check and get the travel requirements of your onward destination to avoid hassle and problems in travel. So, pack your bags, tag along your family and friends, and be ready to enjoy a lot of fun and adventure under the new normal. Cebu is excited to welcome you back!
I <3 Cebu project is an initiative formed by a group of DOT accredited hotels, resorts, tour operators, and travel agents promoting Cebu as a destination. For more information contact, check out and message https://www.facebook.com/ilovecebu032 for updates.