ASEAN delegates explore Old Cebu in heritage walk to promote city tourism

Cebu City showcased its historic roots on Wednesday as over a hundred ASEAN delegates joined a heritage walk through the city’s oldest sites.

The activity, titled “Paglantaw: A Heritage Tour of Old Cebu,” was part of the ASEAN 2026 program and included 114 delegates and four ASEAN tourism ministers, the Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) said.

City tourism officials designed the tour to highlight Cebu’s significant historical landmarks, giving delegates a firsthand experience beyond conference venues.

“There’s a committee that decides where the delegates go, so naturally, we focused on the heritage sites of Old Cebu,” said Anne Marie Vestil, tourism officer of the CCTC. “What we can really present to them are the oldest and most prestigious heritage sites we can offer.”

Vestil said the heritage walk also supports the broader goal of ASEAN tourism engagement: to give host cities international exposure while creating long-term tourism value.

“This activity helps boost Cebu’s tourism industry,” she said. “That’s the purpose of hosting the ASEAN Tourism Forum, so Cebu City can also be in the limelight.”

Councilor Nyza “Nice” Archival, chair of the Cebu City Tourism Committee, said the city’s history remains one of its strongest tourism assets.

“Cebu City is known for its history and heritage, so that’s what we chose to present through the heritage walk,” Archival said. “Hopefully, we can capture their hearts so they’ll come back, and eventually help increase visitor arrivals to the city in 2026.”

Archival also described the January heritage walk as a “dry run” for Cebu’s role as host of the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit and Related Summits, scheduled for May 8 to 9.

Beyond tourism, Archival said the city council is considering long-term measures, such as an ordinance limiting building heights in mountainous areas to reduce risks in quake-prone zones.

Mayor Nestor Archival said face-to-face classes were temporarily suspended during the heritage walk to prevent traffic disruptions along key routes.

“When the delegates move, other traffic has to stop, and that would cause congestion,” the mayor said. “The area they’re touring is quite large, and they can’t be stalled along the way. That’s why we requested, through the police, the suspension of face-to-face classes today and tomorrow.”

He also noted that Cebu’s tourism sector has faced recent challenges, citing hotel occupancy rates as a measure of visitor activity.

“For the last few months, tourism here went down, and the barometer for that is hotel occupancy,” the mayor said. “That’s why one gauge of a successful Sinulog is hotel occupancy—and in fact, some hotels are still seeing extended stays even now.” (LLP)