With nary a doubt, Davao City’s tourism industry is on the upswing. Along with it too, are the accompanying dangers of fraud and illegal tour operations.
Based on the data from the City Tourism office, tourist arrivals for the first half of 2019 have reached 1.268 million or nearly halfway to the 3 million target of the local government for the entire year. Arrivals for the first semester likewise increased by 8.61% from 1.167% recorded in the same period a year ago.
However, behind this surging growth, the tourism sector is in constant threat to unscrupulous tour operators offering tour packages to tourists, or simply put engaging in business, without the required license and permits. There are tour operators that engage in business without the mandatory licensing prior to operations. It is the same problem as in the real estate development industry where close to 100 contractors actually operate without the required permits prior to actual construction.
The Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTO) reiterated its warning to tourists visiting the city for the Kadayawan Festival to avoid transacting with unlicensed travel agencies offering tour services on social media. The warning came after CTO’s licensing unit and Business Bureau arrested operators of one unlicensed travel agency during an inspection at its pick-up point on Malvar Street this city. The City Tourism Office, through its head, Generose Tecson said the company’s operation was illegal despite its claims that the business permit allowing them to sell tour packages is being processed. It’s plain and simple. The law says you cannot operate until all the necessary permits have been accomplished.
In short, you cannot cut corners in doing business. An entity needs to satisfy legal requisites before it solicits clients.
Given the scenario, the CTO has advised all visiting guests to Davao City to make sure they are dealing with the proper entities or business establishments before making any transactions especially with the unlicensed firms. But other than merely issuing advisories, the city government must impose sanctions on erring businesses in the tourism market. It cannot afford to wait until complaints flood its way. It has to crack the whip early while the problem is not yet too messed up.
