Voices on the Road: Exploring Stakeholders' Perspective on Tourism Infrastructure and Sustainable Growth in Cebu City

Tourism infrastructure is a fundamental driver of sustainable tourism development, shaping destination accessibility, mobility, economic opportunities, and visitor experiences. As Cebu City continues to modernize its transportation network, understanding how stakeholders perceive the contribution of major infrastructure projects to sustainable tourism growth has become increasingly important. This study employed a qualitative descriptive research design and gathered data through semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively selected participants, including residents, tourists, government personnel, and tourism stakeholders. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. The findings generated two overarching themes: Tourism Infrastructure and Sustainable Growth, and Perceptions of Transport, Facilities, and Accessibility. Participants identified the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), South Road Properties (SRP) Tunnel, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system as transformative developments that enhanced connectivity, mobility, tourism accessibility, and economic opportunities. Furthermore, stakeholders perceived improved transport convenience and accessibility as key contributors to tourism development and community well-being. Nevertheless, challenges related to transportation costs, limited last-mile connectivity, accessibility gaps, and infrastructure usability remained significant concerns. Participants likewise emphasized that inclusive infrastructure is essential to ensuring that tourism benefits are accessible to diverse stakeholder groups and contribute to long-term sustainability. Consequently, the study developed the Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure Framework (STIF), which integrates major infrastructure improvements, sustainable growth outcomes, stakeholder experiences, transport accessibility, usability considerations, and infrastructure inclusivity as interconnected dimensions of sustainable tourism development. The study concluded that tourism infrastructure contributes most effectively to sustainable growth when development initiatives are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to stakeholder needs.