08/04/2026
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Central Visayas Tourism Stakeholders Unite for a Calibrated, Worker-First Response Amid Global Disruptions
In a strategic and forward-looking initiative, the Department of Tourism Central Visayas convened a Tourism Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on March 31, 2026, at Bai Hotel Cebu, bringing together key government agencies, industry leaders, and tourism partners in a hybrid setting to address the ongoing impacts of global disruptions, particularly the Middle East disturbance, on the regionโs tourism sector.
More than a routine consultation, the meeting served as a strategic check-in conference aimed at aligning sectoral responses and strengthening coordination across the tourism value chain. Central to the discussions was the adoption of a worker-first policy, recognizing the vulnerability of tourism frontliners and daily earners. Stakeholders emphasized the need to safeguard livelihoods through alternative employment opportunities, capacity-building programs, and expanded training initiatives under the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence.
Leading the meeting, OIC-Regional Director Gelena Asis-Dimpas underscored the importance of collective action through the proposed Central Visayas Tourism Coordination and Resilience (CV-CoRe) Networkโa platform designed to facilitate real-time information exchange, co-develop adaptive strategies, and ensure coordinated monitoring and response mechanisms across the region. She highlighted the โproactive and compassionate stanceโ of stakeholders, emphasizing that resilience and unity remain essential in navigating evolving challenges.
The consultation also highlighted ongoing government support measures under the national UPLIFT framework, including fuel subsidies, financial assistance, and potential tax relief, alongside the integration of the tourism sector into the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on Energy and Economic Response.
At its core, the meeting reaffirmed a unified commitment: that while global challenges continue to reshape the tourism landscape, Central Visayas remains steadfast in its mission to adapt, protect livelihoods, and sustain industry growth through collaboration, innovation, and resilience.
