DOT tells tourists: Do not cancel Cebu flights as province is safe
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- DOT tells travelers not to cancel flights; Cebu remains safe and open.
- Cebu City and Mactan Island largely unaffected by recent typhoons and earthquake.
- New and resumed international flights strengthen connectivity.
- Tourism operations largely back to normal after Typhoon Tino.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco (Photo courtesy of DOT)
The Department of Tourism (DOT) appealed to travelers not to cancel their flights to Cebu, saying key tourism areas are safe and fully operational despite recent typhoons and an earthquake.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said the province’s recovery is ongoing but stable.
Core tourism zones such as Cebu City and Mactan Island were largely unaffected by Typhoon Uwan, Typhoon Tino, and the magnitude 6.9 earthquake off Bogo City.
“Cebu’s spirit of hospitality remains steadfast, and your continued visits help sustain jobs, restore livelihoods, and support recovery efforts,” Frasco said.
The DOT is coordinating closely with airlines, tour operators, and travel agencies to assist tourists in rebooking or adjusting itineraries.
Frasco emphasized that Cebu’s tourism infrastructure continues to operate smoothly, assuring that the province is fully ready to welcome visitors safely.
The department also announced new and resumed international flights to Cebu.
These include Firefly’s Kuala Lumpur–Cebu on Dec. 2, Jetstar’s Perth–Manila on Nov. 27, Brisbane–Cebu on Dec. 3, and Vietnam Airlines’ Hanoi–Cebu on Dec. 2.
Additional flights include VietJet’s Ho Chi Minh–Manila on Nov. 22, AirAsia’s Cebu–Kuala Lumpur and Cebu–Macau on Nov. 15, and Philippine Airlines’ Cebu–Guam on Dec. 16.
The DOT reported that around 1,400 tourism workers were temporarily affected by Typhoon Tino, but operations have largely returned to normal.