A creative partnership has been established between two creative cities.
Led by the Department of Tourism- Cordillera, the Cordillera Creative Tour Exchange in Cebu, in collaboration with DOT-Region 7, aims to expose artists, media, LGU and tourism partners to experience the creativity of the Philippines through an inter-regional familiarization tour exchange program that will feature the rich cultural and artistic assets of two of the country’s pioneering UNESCO Creative Cities—the Cebu Creative City for Design and the Baguio Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art.
Baguio, known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines,” boasts a rich cultural heritage, shaped by its indigenous communities and colonial history. Cebu, on the other hand, holds the distinction of being the “Queen City of the South,” with a vibrant history deeply intertwined with the country’s Spanish colonial past.
The activity is in line with the objective to provide the avenue for the continuing development of the creative tourism sector in the region while strengthening collaborative partnerships with the tourism industry of regional counterparts.
The Creative Tour Exchange is part of the Cebu-BaguioCebu Route Development, a strategic plan that targets to create travel demand between Central Visayas and Baguio City, which will further strengthen the Cebu-Baguio flight connectivity that was opened last year. With art and creativity as a trigger, the creative tour exchange could stir visitor interest for both regions.
The 21 participants for the Cordillera Creative Tour Exchange in Cebu include officers and members of the Cordillera Tourism Press Club, Baguio Tourism Council, LGU Baguio City, Council for the Baguio Creative City (CBCC), regional line agencies, and selected Cordillera artists.
As a reciprocal creative undertaking and an exchange program, Baguio City anticipates to host and extend similar courtesies to an organized group from Cebu—also with media, tour operators and influencers—who will conduct a similar program in the future that will be initiated by DOT-Region VII.
The Baguio-Cebu Creative Exchange exemplifies the boundless potential of UNESCO designated cities to transcend geographical, cultural, and artistic boundaries. Through this collaboration, Baguio and Cebu will create a tapestry of creativity and heritage that not only enriches their own communities but also resonates with audiences worldwide. This exchange serves as a testament to the transformative power of art and culture, reminding us of the profound connections that can emerge when cities come together to celebrate their shared humanity.
