CEBU CITY - Cebu is set to benefit from the latest gathering of international tourism stakeholders at the 39th SKAL Asian Congress as tour operators, investors, and business owners from around Asia expressed keen interest in forging ties with their counterparts here. Cebu's modern infrastructure, world-class tourism facilities, friendly people, and warm and caring atmosphere were among the reasons cited by foreign tourism stakeholders why they are interested in exploring the possibility of establishing business opportunities in the province. Skal National Committee President Dr. Robert Lim Joseph said foreign tourism stakeholders have signed contracts with their local counterparts for tour packages and other business-to-business agreements as a result of Cebu's successful hosting of the 39th SKAL Asian Congress last May 27-30. Skal is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group which unites all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its over 20,000 members worldwide are mostly made up of key players in the industry. "We expect more tourists to come to Cebu, more tourism-related investments, and more partnerships between local and foreign tour operators as a result of the recent Congress," said Joseph, who also heads the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS). At least 100 foreign stakeholders in the international tourism industry and 60 more of their local counterparts converged in Cebu for the tourism congress, a meeting that aimed to promote cooperation and understanding amongst travel and tourism clubs. Hembler Mendoza, Vice-President the Skal Club of Cebu, said the Congress further provided an understanding of the international scope of Skalkal and enabled participants to experience the richness that the coming together of different cultures brought, and the feeling that they all belong to one large family in this tourism-oriented club. The first SKAL Club was founded in 1932 in Paris by travel managers, following an educational tour of Scandinavia. The idea of international goodwill and friendship grew and, in 1934, the "Association Internationale des Skål Clubs" was formed with Florimond Volckaert as its first President, who is considered the "Father of Skål".
