Davao City expects 2.8-M tourists this year

FILE: Sayawan sa D’an. Araw ng Dabaw 2014. San Pedro Street, Davao City. Festival time. (Photo by Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

DAVAO CITY – The City Tourism Office is optimistic the city can hit its target of 2.8 million tourist arrivals this year, noting the city’s line-up of convention and sports events.

City Tourism Officer Regina Rosa Tecson said this year’s target is higher than last year’s 2.

4 million tourist arrivals.

Tecson said the local government is intensively promoting the city as the best venue for meetings and conventions, pointing to several international sports events this year such as the Ironman 70.3 triathlon slated in March.

“We have lined up big events starting from the DAVRAA (Davao Region Athletic Association), Chinese New Year, Araw ng Davao, Ironman, Palarong Pambansa and a lot more,” she said.

She said packaging the city as an enjoyable place to tour around and a safe place to stay has boosted the local tourism industry.

“Also, the Dabawenyos posting good (things) about Davao helps a lot in promoting the city,” Tecson said.

Another reason for the influx of tourist arrivals is the opening of new international routes such as the latest Davao City-Xiamen and Davao City Hong Kong connections.

“Because of the new international routes, we have reached 15 percent increase in foreign tourist (arrivals). This is higher compared to the 9 to 10 percent foreign tourist arrivals in 2017,” she said.