Davao de Oro Provincial Tourism Officer Christine Dompor told media on Tuesday that the province is looking for more tourism-related establishments, particularly in the accommodation sector, to cater to the increasing tourist arrivals.
“We are looking for more accommodation facilities para sa overnight stay at para ma lengthen ang stay sa mga guests kay usually sa amoa is more on day tours kay because of the limited accommodation facilities. Naga look forward mi mag increase kay ubay ubay na pud ang nag abri namo nga destinations,” Dompor said during P.E.P Talk media forum at SM Lanang Premier on Tuesday.
Dompor said Davao de Oro is experiencing an increase in tourism receipts and arrivals. In 2020, Davao de Oro placed number 10 in the country, and in 2021 ranked 6 in terms of high tourism receipts because of the local tourism domestic bubble.
“Sa tourist receipts pag pandemic napalong siya naay 35 percent decrease mao na ang the previous years na wala ta because of the pandemic but when we reopened it nagtaas. Ang trend karon sa atoang mga resorts and accommodation is “exclusive booking.” Aduna tay increase around 40 percent increase from 2021 to 2022. Kaning pagtaas sa atoang gasolina isa sa mga naka hamper karon for travel. Kung long holidays and weekends kay medyo matauhan. Sauna even weekdays dili gyud ma zero sa bookings,” she said.
Dompor attributed the increase to the development of tourism-related establishments in the province. She said there are also community-based eco-tourism (CBET) sites that were opened and managed by the communities or local barangays.
“During the pandemic miraculously nakita nato it’s not a measurement pala ang presence of the foreign groups because our local domestic bubble sila ang nagbuhi sa amoa during the pandemic. We just closed in six months and all our neighboring provinces are closed while kami buhi kaayo. Makita nato nagka-anam anam na ang circuit development in one day you can visit as many as five tourism sites,” she said.
Gold-rich Davao de Oro is currently frequented by tourists and adventure seekers because of its sights and destinations which include Bilawa Mainit Hot Waterfalls, New Barili Heights and Sights, Lake Leonard in Maco, Tagbibinta Falls, and Ayuste Nature Park in Maragusan and Salvosa Falls in Pantukan.
The province will be celebrating the Bulawan festival and 25th Founding anniversary on March 6 to 8, 2023.
