Cebu top business, tourism hub

CEBU City, where Air Niugini is starting twice weekly flights, is the oldest in the Philippines.
It is the premiere city of Cebu, a province in central Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands.
Cebu is one of the most-developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the main centre of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas.
Condé Nast Traveler Magazine named Cebu the 7th best island destination in the Indian Ocean-Asia region in 2007, 8th best Asian-Pacific island destination in 2005, 7th in 2004 and in 2009.
 It is located to the east of Negros island province, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands.
Cebu is a long narrow island stretching 225km from north to south, surrounded by 167 neighbouring, smaller islands, which include Mactan, Bantayan, Malapascua, Olango and the Camotes Islands.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport, where Air Niugini is flying to, is located on Mactan Island, and is the second busiest airport in the Philippines after Manila.
Cebu businessman Mel Oplimo, who has business links with PNG, said Air Niugini could not go wrong as Cebu was the business and tourism hub of the Philippines.
“We enjoy the splendor and beauty of Cebu,”he told The National in Cebu.
“Cebu is known for its semi-conductor industry, furniture industry, shipping, travel and tourism.
“Cebu is known as a rest and recreation area and most entrepreneurs and Chinese tycoons come from Cebu.
“Cebu is known as a tourism hub.
“It has been declared as one of the best destinations for tourism in Asia because of its pristine white beaches and hotel services.”