Lapu-Lapu City is marking its 65th Charter anniversary in grand style with the opening of Tourism Expo 2026, a five-day event designed to boost local enterprises and showcase the city as one of the country premier travel destinations.
The expo, which opened on June 15 at the Mahi Center in Barangay Ibo, features 11 exhibitors from the tourism and hospitality sectors offering travel and accommodation packages, staycation deals, and special booking promotions.
Mayor Ma. Cynthia Cindi Chan said the event forms part of the city 65th Charter anniversary celebration and aims to promote Lapu-Lapu as an economic powerhouse and global hub for MICE events — meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.
Sixty-five years ago, Lapu-Lapu City was a quiet coastal town. Today, it stands as an economic powerhouse, a world-class resort destination, and a global hub for MICE events, Chan said during the opening ceremony.
The mayor emphasized that tourism remains the city bread and butter, generating thousands of jobs, supporting the transport sector, and sustaining local artisans and entrepreneurs. She encouraged the public to take advantage of exclusive travel deals and special promotions offered by participating exhibitors.
The celebration also includes a special non-working day on June 17, declared under Proclamation 1276, with classes suspended across all public and private schools in the city. The anniversary carries the theme: Celebrating 65 Years of Service and Progress: Empowered by People, United in Purpose.
Since its conversion into a chartered city in 1961, Lapu-Lapu has grown from a quiet coastal town into a major economic center in the Visayas, home to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, numerous resorts, and a thriving business community.
For more about Lapu-Lapu City and other stories from the region, visit our Cebu news section.