Turn a quick business trip into a memorable bleisure travel experience.
Photo by Hitoshi Namura on Unsplash
Jobs fill your pocket, adventures fill your soul.
In some cases, your job can take you on an adventure, especially when it’s through an all-expense paid business trip. This helps bridge the gap between business partners who are located in different parts of the world.
Today, many companies include a bleisure travel aspect (a combination of business and leisure) to their employees’ business trips.
Now, what is the purpose of bleisure travel?
Sometimes called a “bizcation,” this activity can include sightseeing, lounging by the beach, or visiting tourist spots throughout one’s work-related travels.
In that case, if your company is sending you to Cebu City, a popular tourist destination in the Philippines, you should definitely consider adding a few bleisure activities to your itinerary.
From trying out local food to buying local products and souvenirs, and even experiencing recreational activities that will make your stay extra memorable – this article highlights the fun and laid back culture of Cebu that millions of foreigners have come to admire and love.
- A historical tour in downtown Cebu
There are a lot of significant events in Cebu that have contributed to the country’s history and culture, especially since Cebuanos were the first Filipinos to be baptized into Christianity.
Many tourist spots in the city highlight the island’s faith.
The Magellan’s Cross, for example, is a wooden cross that was offered to the Cebuanos from Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan when he sought to spread Christianity in the Philippines.
Magellan also gifted Cebuanos the image of the Child Jesus, Sto. Niño – known as the patron saint of the island. The original image is stored inside the Basilica del Sto. Niño, located right behind the Magellan’s Cross.
Aside from religious attractions, downtown Cebu also has several museums that showcase the history of the Cebuano lifestyle, including:
- Archdiocesan Museum of Cebu
- Yap Sandiego Ancestral House
- Jesuit House Museum
- Casa Gorordo Museum
- A filling food trip at Sugbo Mercado
Cebu has a pretty rich culinary industry, having some of the best local dishes in the country.
But where do you start? Well, the city has a ton of food parks to choose from.
They have pretty much everything you might want, from filling meals and mouthwatering snacks to a selection of fruit juices, teas, coffee, and various local beverages.
The most popular food park on the island is the Sugbo Mercado.
Many travelers visit this busy nightlife eatery at IT Park to try out the local food scene, especially specialty dishes made by Cebuanos. You can choose from a vast selection of grilled pork, chicken, and seafood.
This is indeed a great starting point if you’re interested in learning more about the food culture of Cebu.
Cebu is also famous for exotic dishes like Tuslob Buwa (pig brain cooked with gravy).
Most of all, when in Cebu, make sure to add lechon (suckling pig) to your list of must-try foods! It is the island’s most popular culinary offering.
- Exploring the city’s shopping malls
Sometimes, you may want to take a break and unwind after getting out of a long business meeting. Rather than staying at your hotel, try visiting the shopping malls and see what they have to offer.
Ayala Center Cebu is popular for its “poshness,” with several luxury brands, world-renowned retail stores, and its spacious indoor nature park, making it a one stop shop for anything you need.
You can chill at a cafe, eat at a fancy Filipino restaurant, or watch a movie at their state-of-the-art cinemas.
SM Seaside, on the other hand, is the biggest mall in Cebu, with tons of local and international brands as well as fun recreational activities that you can try – like archery, bowling, and ice skating.
There are many other malls in Cebu, some offering more affordable products and services. Most hotels in Cebu are located close to a mall too. You can check out:
- Robinsons Galleria
- Robinsons Fuente
- SM City Cebu
- Metro Gaisano
- Riding a Philippine jeepney
Did you know that riding public transportation is one of the many things that foreigners aim to try when they visit a foreign country? In the Philippines, the main form of public transport are jeepneys, which are former army trucks that have been converted into passenger vehicles.
One quirky thing about Philippine jeepneys is that instead of paying for your fare at the terminal, you will be giving it to the driver’s assistant inside the jeep while it’s running. Other than getting on a jeepney at a terminal, you can also board one along the street.
Traditional jeepneys can get cramped and uncomfortable because of the many passengers. It can also be hot and humid, while other jeepneys have heavy exhaust fumes.
Since 2017, the Philippine government has implemented the jeepney modernization program, improving jeepneys by installing air conditioning and overall having better infrastructure and even options for cashless payments.
THE BENEFITS OF BLEISURE TRAVEL
Many companies have come to cherish the so-called work-life balance, especially with work and play being difficult to separate at times. Giving employees a short but memorable break during a business trip benefits not just the employee, but also the employer.
The traveling employee gets a morale boost and reduced stress, leading to productivity in the workforce. Subsequently, administering bleisure travel entices more employees to go abroad for work.
The travel industry benefits from this as well. According to Martijn Barten (2024), companies are now spending more on business trips by six to seven percent each year.
Moreover, 43 percent of these trips include a leisure component, showing how important it is for employees to unwind and relax even during an important business trip.
It’s crucial to find something to do aside from going to meetings or conferences when you’re in a foreign country. Traveling after all is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many, and it would be such a waste if you didn’t have enough time to explore and appreciate the place on your own.
If you’re looking for fun, easy, and affordable activities in Cebu City, start at the heart of the island’s culture. Take a break from your busy schedule and give yourself the opportunity to learn more about the lifestyle of the locals.
With that, you can make your business trip to Cebu a worthwhile one.
REFERENCES:
Barten, Martijn. 2024. “What is Bleisure Travel? The Bleisure Traveller Explained.” Revfine.
https://www.revfine.com/bleisure-travel/.
