The province of Cebu is poised to broaden its international collaborations by forging a sisterhood agreement with Phuket, Thailand, with the goal of boosting tourism and educational exchanges. The Thai Ambassador to the Philippines, Tull Traisorat, and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia discussed this sisterhood agreement during Traisorat's courtesy visit to the Cebu Capitol.
Traisorat committed to advocating for this partnership, recognizing the mutual benefits for both provinces, which are renowned tourist destinations. The sisterhood agreement will focus on tourism, economic cooperation, and education. One of the key initiatives is the launch of a direct flight route between Cebu and Phuket later this year, which aims to increase tourist arrivals and support local businesses in Cebu.
Sugbo News, Cebu's official media outlet, reported that the partnership will attract more Thai tourists to Cebu. Additionally, the agreement will facilitate educational exchanges, allowing Thai students to enroll in English proficiency programs offered by local schools in Cebu.
Garcia considers these sisterhood agreements vital for promoting Cebu on the international stage and creating more opportunities for Cebuanos to achieve economic and educational progress. In June, she renewed Cebu's sisterhood ties with Saint Petersburg, Russia, during her visit there.
Cebu currently maintains sisterhood relationships with 12 international partners, including Busan Metropolitan Government and Gangwon in South Korea; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangdong, and Fujian in China; as well as Guam, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Barcelona in Spain, and Valparaiso in Chile, among others.
Phuket, the largest province in southern Thailand, is renowned for its stunning beaches and lively tourist attractions. The proposed sisterhood agreement seeks to harness the strengths of both Cebu and Phuket to enhance collaboration and promote mutual growth.
