Eco-adventure enthusiasts may consider an addition to their bucketlist as Visit Davao Fun Sale announced its newest feature for 2017– the province of Davao Oriental.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Roberto Alabado III disclosed in a press briefing Thursday the line of activities added this year particularly the national sporting competition to watch out for.
“Experience Davao Oriental” tour package is a two-day fun tour kicking off with Banaybanay Welcome Park, Mt.Hamiguitan UNESCO Heritage Park, view of Sleeping Dinosaur Island, Mati Baywalk, Subangan Museum, the seasonal Dahican Turtle Sighting and Whale Watching, and Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel.
The Philippines’ skimboarding capital, Dahican will host eco-sporting events dubbed, “National Skimboarding Competition” and “Ultimate Frisbee Invitational Tournament” slated on April 20 to 23, 2017. Also this year, Amihan sa Dahican will celebrate its 13th anniversary as the watch group created for eco-protection related to turtle egg-hatching, dolphin and whale sightings.
Mati City’s local economic investments and promotions officer Tanya Rabat-Tan invited Davaoeños and enthusiasts to sign up, come and witness this year’s competitions.
“The skimboarding competition was initially planned to be an international competition but we brought it down to national and this time, it’s bigger,” she said.
Davao Oriental provincial tourism consultant Cynthia Rodriguez stressed the local government’s stride to improve and expand facilities to accommodate the influx of tourists.
“Our hotels are not that many but we are exerting efforts to improve them. We are really into eco-sports that’s why most of our tourists are campers. Most of the time they bring tents on their own,” she said.
In 2013, Davao Oriental was one of the two provinces in the country declared as “Tourism Development Area” (TDA) under Republic Act 10560 along with Kalinga.
Provinces declared as TDA can expect the government and private sectors to develop the tourism industry in the province by strengthening infrastructure, creating tour packages, and identifying investment opportunities.
Visit Davao Fun Sale will run from April 16 to May 31 featuring discounted offerings in airfare, accommodations, tours, dining, beauty and wellness as well as sporting events, arts, and nightlife.
It is organized by Davao Fun Sale Execom in partnership with DOT and co-presented by Davao City Government, AirAsia, Bonamine, BPI Cards, Cebu Pacific and Tanduay.
