Cebu is building on its centuries as a cultural stronghold into a major economic and tourism player. As the Philippines’ oldest city, Cebu’s Spanish colonial heritage is evident in landmarks like Magellan’s Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño. But this is also a metropolis on the rise and the tech sector continues to be a major driver, with Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park serving as focal points for both multinational companies and start-ups. In 2022, Cebu’s economy received a significant boost with the opening of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, a US$800-million project that enhances connectivity between Cebu and Mactan Island, where dozens of boutique hotels and beachfront resorts are opening to cater to international tourists. This key infrastructure development is expected to unlock further investment in both industrial and commercial real estate, and validate Mactan-Cebu International Airport’s US$330-million second terminal expansion as the country’s second-largest air gateway (currently ranking #65). But local tourism is already ascendant. In 2023, the highly anticipated NUSTAR Resort and Casino opened, marking the first integrated casino resort outside of Manila. The luxury development includes a world-class convention center, upscale hotels and entertainment venues that will finally embolden the historical heart of the Philippines to level up to the capital.