THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) XI recorded a total of 2,325,825 tourist arrivals for the third quarter of this year for Davao Region.
This was announced during the Tourism Industry Year-End Gathering held on Dec. 8, an accomplishment report concluded by DOT XI regional director Tanya Rabat-Tan.
According to Tan, the increase was attributed to Davao Region’s “hosting of various international and national events, such as MICECON and Ironman 70.3., as well as the Philippine Experience campaign in Davao which highlighted top destinations, culture, heritage, and arts”.
“We definitely have an increase in tourist arrivals this year. Comparing the first three quarters of 2023 to this year, we have an increase of 46.91%,” Tan said.
Apart from the national government’s lifting of the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19, Tan said the various DOT and private sector-initiated campaigns, marketing activities, and events have widely contributed to the increase of the city’s tourist arrivals.
Among the top foreign markets for the region were the United States, China, Japan, Korea, and India. The region’s product portfolio of tourism activities included diving, MICE, nature ventures, agriculture, and cultural affairs.
Considered a MICE-driven destination, the report states most of the tourists stay longer in Davao City, where MICE facilities are mostly situated.
“However, we have post-MICE activities and destinations all across the region, such as the Island Garden City of Samal, Dahican in Mati City, and Kapatagan in Digos City,” she said.
She also mentioned in her report the 457 accredited number of tourism enterprises as of Nov. 30, a 74% increase compared to the 259 of November 2022.
“The diversity of our tourism products, from nature and culture to MICE and adventure, have always been Davao Region’s main tourism lures. These have also made us unique compared to other destinations,” she added.
Some of the plans and programs pipelined by DOT for 2024 were: to conduct a Philippine Experience provincial leg, a business mission with Davao tourism stakeholders, and revisit regional tourism circuits, among others.
