Business groups sound alarm as tourism growth slows down

Cebu’s business community is sounding the alarm over slowing tourism growth, warning that infrastructure gaps, policy constraints and weak supply-chain integration are eroding the province’s competitiveness as a regional travel hub.

- Ehda M. Dagooc Staff Member

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Mark Ynoc said visitor numbers remain well below potential, weighed down by limited international connectivity, restrictive visa policies and lingering concerns over safety and governance.

While Cebu has benefited from relatively better airport infrastructure than many provinces, the absence of additional long-haul flights and inefficiencies in immigration processing have capped arrivals, particularly from key Asian markets.