DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 21 December) — The Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao was optimistic that the region will meet its target of 3.5 million visitors for 2024.
Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan of the Department of Tourism-IX. MindaNews file photo by ANTONIO L. COLINA IV
DOT-Davao director Tanya Rabat-Tan said at the PEP Talks forum on Friday that 2.6 million visitors came to the region as of the third quarter, which was already close to its annual target.
She said the agency created community-based and eco-tourism sites in the region, giving travelers more choices.
She said that they are working closely with local governments, aiming to create new eco-sites and promote attractions, especially new tourist spots outside Davao City.
“I’m hoping through the efforts that we’ve been doing that we will gain a bit more international travelers because we have Samal Island and there are destinations outside Davao City,” she said.
The international flights from Davao International Airport are Scoot’s Davao-Singapore-Davao, Qatar Airways’ Davao-Doha-Davao, Cebu Pacific’s Davao-Hong Kong-Davao, and Cebu Pacific’s Davao-Bangkok-Davao.
Tan added the tourism sector anticipates stronger meetings, incentive travel, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) for 2025, in the hope of attracting more travelers from different parts of the country.
“We continue to welcome conferences and conventions in 2024. Based on our coordination with LGU and hotels, there have been several MICE events here. We’re hoping for more investments in that sense in 2025 because we do need more players so that we can cater to all these MICE,” she said.
She said there are hotels, with large conference rooms, ballrooms, and convention halls scheduled to open in the first semester of 2025.
The tourism official added that the region continues to generate interest amid the intense political rivalry.
“Our partnership with the private stakeholders is already strong. We continue with all our activities. With that partnership, we can conduct all our activities without any problem,” she said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
