Cebu to vie for top spot in 7 Wonders Cities of the World

CEBU – Cebu City may become even more popular among local and foreign tourists and may just land in the list of the New 7 Wonders Cities next year.

That is, if it can get enough votes to compete with big cities like New York, Paris and Tokyo.


As of Wednesday, Cebu City ranks second among 44 cities in Southeast Asia and Oceania in the search involving some 1,200 cities from 220 countries.


The search and online voting is being facilitated by the New7Wonders, the same group behind the man-made New 7 Wonders of the World and the New 7 Wonders of Nature.


Although it was the first time they heard about the search, officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Visayas, Cebu City Government and the Cebu Investment and Promotions Center (CIPC) welcomed the nomination.


“Just to be nominated, it would already help promote Cebu City as a tourist destination. Cebu City is different from other cities because for one, it is the seat of Christianity of the Philippines and despite being a highly urbanized city, Cebu City is able to preserve its past, its culture and heritage,” DOT Regional Director Rowena Montecillo said.


The CIPC and Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) chairperson and Councilor Margarita Osmena also count the South Road Properties and the construction boom as contributors to Cebu City’s “wonders”.
The list of Wonders Cities in Southeast Asia is dominated by Philippine cities, with Vigan in Ilocos Sur topping the list, followed by the cities of Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Paranaque.
On the eighth spot is Sydney, followed by Singapore and Bangkok.


Montecillo said the DOT-Central Visayas will support the campaign to help make Cebu City one of the finalists.


The global online voting started last January with some 1,200 nominees from 220 countries. More than 300 cities will be chosen for the qualification phase (one from each country and the top 77 cities with the most number of votes).


From the top 77 voted during the qualification phase, the New7Wonders Cities panel of experts advises on the selection of the 28 official finalists. Voting for the finalists continues across three phases until 2013. The Official New7Wonders Cities will be announced on December 7, 2013.


www.philcebuproperties.com