DOT 11 targets 2.6M tourists in ‘15

By Cheneen R. Capon
THE Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 is expecting tourist arrival in Davao Region to increase from around 2.2 million in 2014 to 2.6 million this year.
“We’re always targeting it with the 10 million tourist arrival target of the national government and we have to contribute to that,” DOT 11 director Roberto P. Alabado III told reporters on the sidelines of the Club 888 media forum at Marco Polo Davao yesterday.
Alabado is positive that the target will be attained through the “concerted effort” of different local government units, DOT 11 and the private sector.
“The DOT 11 will be going around the region and helping our provincial and city tourism officers to package their own destinations in a better manner so that it can be more attractive to our visitors,” Alabado said.
He also said that the six week-2015 Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) from April 3 to May 17 will surely draw tourist as well as promotion of tourist destinations in the region like the Mt Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).
The 2015 VDFS, a shopping sale program, is an offshoot of the 2014 Big Davao Fun Sale (BDFS) which drew a hundred thousands of local and foreign tourists.
This year’s fun sale is bigger as other tourism sector players including hotels and resorts, travel and tour agencies, dining and restaurants, spa and wellness establishments, and shopping malls and stores will also join.
Alabado reported that nine malls and stores and 106 restaurants will be giving special discounts and promotions during the duration.
These nine malls include Abreeza Ayala Malls, Gaisano Mall of Davao, Bajada and Toril, NCCC Mall, S&R, Robinsons Abreeza, SM City Davao, SM Lanang Premierm and Victoria Plaza Mall.
Among the restaurants and dining clusters in Davao City that will offer up to 20 percent discount during the duration are Matina Town Square, Damosa Gateway, Phoenix Mega Station in Lanang, The Peak in GMall of Davao, Lanang Business Park, Bricklane in Obrero, Victoria Plaza Carpark, Eden Nature Park area and Malagos Mountain Resort and Philippine Eagle Center and restaurants in the streets of Rizal, Torres, and Roxas.