Davao Tourism surges against the odds.
The so called, “Duterte magic” never fails Davaeños as Rodrigo Duterte’s election to presidency spurred to overwhelming opportunities for Davao City and for the whole Region XI. Despite the incident that shook the Davao City on September 2, contrary to the expectation of many, Dabaweño’s resiliency has, in fact, played a vital role in increasing economic and tourism opportunities in the region.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office XI headed by Regional Director Roberto P. Alabado with the support of Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Eden Josephine L. David, local government units and stakeholders has made the tourism boost possible.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Investments Promotion Division Chief Ernie Tomas has also expressed optimism with the wave of stakeholders tapping the agency to invest in Mindanao especially in Davao City.
The Roxas avenue bombing on September 2, 2016 which left 15 dead and 66 injured has carved a deep scar in the hearts of Dabaweños but also proved the city’s disaster preparedness and capacity to rise up against terrorism.
For this year, a number of big ticket events, both local and international, were held in the region geared with the implementation of Department of Tourism’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) Program. In the “Let’s Meet in Davao MICE Program Report” given by MICE Execom Chair Kennedy V. Kapulong, he stated that one convention held once in every two months of 2015 has increased to one convention for every month of 2016.
MICE is one of the top priority programs of Department of Tourism with the objective of marketing the Philippines as a major convention destination in Asia, taking charge of attracting, promoting, facilitating, and servicing large-scale events, international fairs and conventions, congresses, sports competitions, expositions and the like.
With the partnership of tourism stakeholders, Davao region has catered to local and national sectoral conventions such as Cocolink 2016 with 500 delegates and the National Coffee Summit with 500 delegates all held in SMX Convention Center and even levelled up to cater international conventions such as Kakao Konek: Asia-Pacific Cacao Conference bringing 800 delegates and BIMP-EAGA International Halal Congress.
Aside from MICE-initiated events, other happenings brought a wave of visitors in the region such as the National Batang Pinoy 2016 held at Tagum City, Davao del Norte this December.
A promising 2017
With the launching of Davao Metro Shuttle’s Go Mindanao Bus, people can expect more boost in the tourism industry of Davao region as well as its neighboring areas.
With MICE’s incentives, a number of conventions have been slated on 2017 such as Knights of Rizal Convention and PAL Interclub Golf Tournament on February, the International Ballroom Event Asia-tour on March, President’s Cup (Football Tournament) on April and Asian Raptor’s Conservation Conference on October.
For 2017, Kapulong has announced that aside from tourism packages, MICE has expanded the cover of its incentives to spa and wellness and entertainment particularly videography and photography as well as additional tourist attractions for the Duterte Tour.
For January 2017 alone, the ASEAN at 50 will be launched in Davao City which will gather local and foreign delegates to see what Mindanao especially Davao Region could offer. Also, the Mindanao Tapestry Fashion Show of Miss Universe 2017 will also be held in Davao City.
Aside from that, with Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) tying up with DOT, agencies involved in crafting program towards an “integrated and globally competitive Mindanao”.
To kick-off, the Mindanao Development Corridors – Joint Planning and Programming (MinDC-JPP) succeeded the MOA signing event which was attended by provincial tourism officers from all over the island region and served as platform for tourism officers to present their proposals for tourism development for 2017 and beyond which will focus on the biodiversity and ecotourism cluster to the pannel consists of DOT, MinDa and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Chain reaction
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo once stressed that tourism boost will also lead to economic opportunities within a community. Thus, a healthy relationship between stakeholders and government would be beneficial for the region and the country as a whole.
