Cebu’s historic downtown is being promoted as a walkable destination through a new food and heritage tour that brings visitors to landmarks, cultural sites and local food establishments.
The Cebu Food and Heritage Walk was launched Wednesday, Sept. 30, as part of footwear brand Birkenstock’s “Philippines by Foot” campaign, in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other tourism stakeholders.
The route takes participants to Casa Gorordo, the Cebu Heritage Monument, Shamrock Pasalubong Center, La Fortuna Bakery, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu and Magellan’s Cross.
Fort San Pedro, the National Museum of the Philippines-Cebu and Puso Village are also included as optional stops.
DOT Central Visayas Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Riza Marie Macaibay said the tour was designed to give visitors the opportunity to explore Cebu’s history and culinary offerings at their own pace.
“Now, in downtown Cebu, it’s really an ideal area for a walking tour,” Macaibay said.
The Cebu Association of Tour Operations Specialists helped develop the route, which had already undergone a soft launch before its formal introduction on Wednesday.
Visitors may take the route independently, while those who prefer a guided experience may coordinate with DOT-accredited tour operators. Tour costs will vary depending on the operator, package and number of participants.
Macaibay said the initiative also aims to promote walking tours in other destinations across Central Visayas.
“The walking tour is one way of rediscovering Cebu in a different perspective where you can have your own free time, your own pace, and of course, just basically go around and explore the different historical districts of downtown Cebu,” she said.
The Cebu activity forms part of the wider “Philippines by Foot” campaign, which Birkenstock developed locally as an extension of its global “Walk Naturally” initiative, said Carlo Cecilio, senior brand manager of Primer Group of Companies’ Birkenstock.
Cecilio said the campaign encourages Filipinos to experience destinations on foot and reconnect with their surroundings.
The campaign began at Kilometer Zero in Rizal Park in Manila and later expanded to destinations including Intramuros, Makati, Quezon City, Zamboanga and Davao.
Cebu was included because of the concentration of heritage landmarks and cultural sites within its downtown area, Cecilio said.
The Cebu route has about nine stops and ends at Puso Village, where participants can experience Cebuano cuisine.
“This is not just a walk but a gastronomical experience as well,” Cecilio said.
The campaign also encourages walking communities and individuals to organize and document their own walks.
Through the Philippines by Foot website, participants can record their walking experiences, while the campaign has partnered with Just Walk Philippines and other local walking communities.
Cecilio said the campaign will continue with a walk in Clark, Pampanga next month, with additional provincial activities planned next year.
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