‘Banca’ business drives Cebu adventure tourism

OLANGO ISLAND, Mactan- Adventure tourism enthusiasts can now find more attractions in Cebu after a Cebuano entrepreneur ventured into the “banca” business (motorized pumpboats) capitalizing on the increasing demand for island-hopping activities around nearby islands here.

Jay Aldeguer, president and chief executive officer of The Islands Group, opened recently a new company dubbed Islands Banca Cruises Corp. providing decent transportation facilities that will ferry tourists to different island destinations surrounding Cebu.

He said the “banca cruise” is in response to the growing popularity of adventure tourism led by the Department of Tourism (DoT) in promoting Cebu as a leisure destination of the South.

“Adventure tourism is picking up in Cebu. This ‘banca cruise’ will help enhance the attractiveness of the island making it more memorable for the tourists who come here,” Aldeguer said in an interview Tuesday.

“Island hopping and other sea-based activities are part of a leisure itinerary of a tourist especially when visiting Cebu because of the beaches and islands. I see the opportunity of providing a transportation facility through ‘banca’ that will offer good service and amenities,” he added.

Because Cebu is one of the top diving destinations in Central Visayas, Aldeguer said a “banca” ideal for island hopping will be a viable small scale business venture that will complement this.

Diving sites, such as Mactan’s Gilutungan and Nalusuan island marine sanctuaries, are a short 20 to 30-minute “banca” ride from Mactan Island.

Even the bird watching activities in Olango Island, which is among the adventure tourism package promotion of DoT, will benefit from this business. Bird watching, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano earlier said, is seen to become the next exciting tourism attraction of the country, luring the high-spending European market.

Islands Banca Cruises, Aldeguer said will jumpstart the trend on “professionalizing” the standard of services offered by the island hopping “banca” facilities.

Visitors on board Islands Banca Cruises are guaranteed of professional service, complete with welcome drinks, hot and cold towels, and entertainment activities while cruising around nearby islands in Cebu like Malapascua and Bantayan, even as far as Bohol and Apo Island, Aldeguer said.

At present, the company maintains three boats of several sizes with a sitting capacity of up to 40 people on board. Aldeguer said he has outsourced small-scale “banca” operators especially during the summer months. #

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