A Technical Working Group (TWG) was created for the establishment of community-based tourism sites in Davao City.
City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) officer-in-charge Jennifer Romero said on Tuesday that the TWG will look into the city’s ordinances to ensure that the establishment of the community-based tourism sites will follow the city’s ordinances.
“The TWG will look into the ordinances so that when we open the eco-tourism sites and activities and eco-cultural sites as well in the city we will be making sure that we will be starting on the right foot that the regulations will be in place kay sayang man siya because these are the eco-tourism sites, these are our gems in the city, so that when we open this for tourism activities and promotions we will be making sure that all ordinances or regulations will be in place,” Romero said during P.E.P Talks at SM Lanang Premier on Tuesday.
This was initiated already before the pandemic, however, was halted due to Covid-19.
“Right now we are crafting the draft of the community-based tourism. I know that this has been gibuhat na ni siya sa other places in the Davao Region but naa na pud initiative in the past prior to pandemic so naabtan lang gyud siya. We wanted to catch up and we wanted to expedite so that the eco-tourism sites and destinations in the city will be accorded with the ordinances,” Romero said.
Romero said they have a schedule of benchmarking within the Davao Region so it would be recommended and will be forwarded for approval.
Meanwhile, Romero announced that the city will be launching Duaw Dabaw, a new festival scheduled every second quarter of the year to complete the calendar for the entire year.
Davao City has various festivals – Araw ng Dabaw for the first quarter, Kadayawan sa Dabaw for third quarter, and Pasko Fiesta for the fourth quarter and now Duaw Dabaw for the second quarter.
“We planned this out since last year and we are happy to announce that we will be launching the festival for the second quarter. Hoping that this would stabilize and this would be our second quarter festival to complete the calendar for the entire year,” Romero said.
Duaw Dabaw covers the period from June 20 to 30 and the CTOO is working on four components: Dabaw Turismo, which aims to promote the tourism sites and specialties of Davao City, travel deals and travel experiences, agri-tourism, adventures, and tours; Davao Music and Colors, which coincides the month of June as the PRIDE Month it will feature Reyna ng Dabawenya, and art appreciation through exhibits; Davao Lifestyle and Leisure, which will highlight shopping and dining, recreation, social hangouts, and events; and Fiesta sa San Pedro, which also coincides the Feast of San Pedro on June 29, will be highlighted with street fun and food fair, heritage walk and faith and veneration.
Romero said Duaw Dabaw got the inspiration from the Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) that was transformed into Visit Davao Summer Fest.
