Lapu-Lapu City officially opened Tourism Expo 2026 on June 15 at the Mahi Center, kicking off one of the flagship events of the city’s 65th Charter Day celebration.
Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan, Congressman Junard “Ahong” Chan, and City Tourism Officer Gary Lao led the opening ceremony attended by tourism stakeholders, hotel executives, and business leaders.
Running from June 15 to 19, the five-day expo features 10 exhibitors, including hotels, resorts, souvenir shops, and travel agencies offering travel discounts, staycation packages, and promotional deals.
“Over the next five days, from June 15 to 19, this expo will showcase the finest offerings of our city. Through unique travel perks, staycation promos, and exclusive partnerships, we are making luxury and local heritage accessible to everyone,” King-Chan said.
The mayor highlighted the city’s transformation over the past 65 years from a quiet coastal town into a major economic center and a globally recognized tourism destination.
She attributed the city’s growth to long-term planning, infrastructure development, and strong hospitality standards.
King-Chan also underscored Lapu-Lapu City’s emergence as a leading MICE destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, noting that the city has hosted international summits, sporting events, and corporate gatherings, including a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last month.
“Tourism remains our bread and butter. It generates thousands of jobs, supports our transport sector, and sustains our local artisans and entrepreneurs,” she said.
To encourage local travel during Charter Month celebrations, the city government has urged tourism establishments to offer discounted rates and special packages.
Lao described tourism as one of the city’s strongest economic drivers and emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in sustaining industry growth.
“This reflects a simple truth: if the government and the private sector work together, prosperity becomes shared progress,” Lao said.
For his part, Chan pledged continued legislative support for tourism initiatives as vice chairperson of the House Committee on Tourism.
“I encourage everyone to visit the expo and take advantage of the exciting travel discounts, staycation deals, tour packages, and special booking promotions offered by participating hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, and tour operators,” Chan said.
He added that tourism programs not only create new experiences for visitors but also support local businesses and workers who rely on the industry.
In an interview, King-Chan said the expo also aims to help the tourism sector recover from the economic effects of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, which has affected travel patterns globally.
She compared current recovery efforts to those implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, when tourism arrivals sharply declined.
“Importante kaayo ni nga pareha atong pag COVID pandemic na down kaayo atong tourism so nagbalik turismo ta ato,” she said.
The mayor also urged the national government to further strengthen tourism development, including measures that would make travel to the Philippines more affordable and convenient for foreign visitors.
“We hope na ang national government nga more pa ang efforts ba. I think ang needed is to lower our rates sa hotels, airfare, visa-free nga dili na kaayo hasol,” King-Chan said.
Photo courtesy of VCL
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