“Natural beauty” of Davao cited by most visitors in market study

By Aurelio A. Pena

DAVAO CITY, Feb. 9 (PNA) -- Davao's “natural beauty” has been cited by more than 60 percent of visitors surveyed recently in the Davao region, according to the Davao Regional Tourism Council (DRTC).

DRTC Alma Uy said hundreds of visitors surveyed during the last three months last year were asked by a data research firm on what attractions they liked most about Davao during their visits in the region.

The tourism market research conducted by a Davao-based firm Digilutions covered the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Samal Island, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental from October to December last year.

“We were delighted to know that what attracted most visitors to Davao was its natural beauty,” Uy said during a project monitoring meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) top officials.

The tourism industry cluster was one of the eight industry clusters which reported on the progress of various projects in the Davao region as part of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP), a joint project of JICA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with full technical support from the Department of Tourism (DOT), academe, private sector and various local government units.

Most of the visitors interviewed in the market study cited the white beaches of Samal Island, nearby mountain resorts, various garden resorts, mountain trails for hikers, natural caves, the country’s highest mountain Mt. Apo, sprawling flower gardens, etc.

Uy said the market study will help and guide the tourism industry cluster team under the DRTC to plan out programs and promotions projects that will attract more visitors to the Davao region and boost its tourism industry.

The concept of setting up “junctions” adopted from an earlier benchmarking visit to Kota Kinabalu has already been implemented in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur with its “Sta. Cruz Tourism Info Center”.

Another junction had been set up also near the border of Davao and Bukidnon called “Baganihan Visitor Info Center” which will manage all tour sites in the area, including a Bagobo Cultural Village at Marilog.

For visitors who want to see the various attractions at Compostela Valley, a junction called “Bulawan Visitors Info Center” will soon be set up near Monkayo to handle tours at the Diwalwal gold rush mining site, according to Uy.

The DRTC chairman said the tourism industry cluster team will be launching its “Summer Fun in the Sun” tourism fair, forum and exhibits at the Gaisano Mall in Davao City on March 20 to 23 this year.

Various projects and tour packages will also be presented by the tourism industry cluster team to the public during this coming event, Uy added. (PNA)
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