THE DAVAO Tourism Association (DATA), through the initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT) XI, recently joined the business mission in Singapore to collaborate and plan activities that further strengthen the local tourism industry.
The delegation joined 30-35 different tour operators and tour agents from Singapore in the event.
Medardo Macaraig, Philippine ambassador to Singapore, also expressed his support in helping the Davao region to be promoted in the Singapore market.
Pia Partoza, Davao Visitors Destination Hub president, said the event is a great opportunity for the Davao tourism industry after the pandemic.
“We are not just selling Davao City, ang banner talaga namin is ang whole region of Davao,” Partoza said.
Partoza also said Singapore tour operators helped them identify activities and other key factors that might attract tourists such as leisure, access to Halal markets, and infrastructures.
Nicole Bian Ledesma, DATA president said aside from the leisure market, tour operators are also looking for student cultural exchanges and immersions, wherein Cebu and Manila have recently engaged.
“They were pleasantly surprised when DOT-XI regional director Tanya Rabat Tan presented a video on Davao, they were surprised that there is so much to see in Davao, the islands, highlands, the MICE facilities, we have the resorts, hotels, it was a good way to promote Davao,” Ledesma said.
While the Davao region is known for its great resorts, hotels, and Halal markets, Ledesma stressed that some of the major challenges include lack of infrastructure, proximity of places, and cost of airfares.
“There are actually low-cost airlines offering better rates from Singapore to other Asian countries. We need to rally for airlines to have more flights and connectivity to Davao, so that the prices for airfare would also go down, making it more enticing and easier,” she added.
DATA also hoped that the Davao International Airport Authority will be given a budget for next year, as this will provide an avenue for more flights and a gateway for more tourism attractions.
