MAKE IT CEBU!

Voted in 2009 as the one of the five Top Island Destinations in Asia by Travel and Leisure Magazine, the island of Cebu in the Philippines is an accessible and economical tropical destination for holiday or business. Internationally-known for its pristine white beaches and sapphire-blue waters teeming with marine life, the island presents a balance of rich cultural heritage and history, urban living and varied opportunities for natural adventure. But the real reward of traveling to the Philippines is to experience Filipino hospitality. Filipinos, Cebuanos in particular, are natural hosts. They are warm, welcoming and will make every effort to make your stay a most memorable one.

Equipped with an international airport serving direct flights from key Asian and Middle East cities, Cebu has, in recent years seen a significant increase in the volume of chartered flights from Europe, Korea and China. Cebu is home to a variety of world-class international hotels and resorts complete with facilities for leisure getaways, incentive trips, business meetings, conferences and events. Some of these hotels such as Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa have dedicated events management teams to ensure that each facet of the meeting or conference is executed efficiently.

Cebu has been host to important international delegations in the past including the Philippine Incentive Marketing Conference in 2002, the Asean Foreign Ministers Retreat in 2005 and the Asean Summit in 2007. Cebu’s long list of credentials also include being named as among the Top Ten Best Island Destinations in the Asia / Indian Ocean region by Conde Naste magazine for five consecutive years since 2004.

It also home to artisans being the leading producer of fashion jewelry, furniture and fixtures in the Philippines.

With 167 smaller islands neighboring the main island of Cebu, the area boasts of a rich marine ecosystem that is a favorite among divers from all over the world. Dive shops complete with introductory courses are available at a pocket-friendly price for tourists who would like to have a taste of scuba diving. Diving enthusiasts can take advantage of irresistible travel and dive packages such as Shangri-La’s Mactan Dive Holiday Packages which allows guests to enjoy as much as three scheduled dives per day. Water sports like snorkeling, kayaking, hobie cat sailing, parasailing and jet-skiing are also very popular recreation activities offered in the waters of Cebu.

Spa enthusiasts will also be delighted to know that Cebu is home to a variety of spas and wellness centers including the CHI Spa Village of Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, one of the largest spa villages in Asia. Treatments in these spas are mostly inspired by Filipino healing traditions handed down through generations combined with Asian philosophies and Eastern medicine.

As it continues to be a promising business and tourism hub in the Philippines and in Asia, Cebu remains to be an ideal leisure and business destination, with internationally recognized facilities and services that can compete with the rest of the world. 

When you think of Cebu, envision a land with pristine white beaches of powdery white sand, year-round tropical climate, a rich gastronomical tradition, fresh fruits like the world-famous Cebu mango available throughout the year and its rich, colorful history. Cebu is a kaleidoscope of various cultures and lifestyles – a mélange of things conventional and modern. Cebu is definitely in the neighborhood of paradise.

Editor’s note: More and more Chinese tourists are heading to the Philippines with the expansion of flight access from China, specially with the charter flights. Direct charter flights are available from Shanghai to Cebu on Shanghai Air. There will be another charter service from Shanghai to Cebu on China Southern Air, and from Shanghai to Kalibo-Boracay on Philippine Airlines and China Southern Air to cater to the big demand for beach holiday package during the summer break. For more information, call the Philippine Tourism Office - Phil. Consulate General Shanghai at Tel. No. (021) 6279-7550).