By Rose Palacio

Davao City  — Although a young market for tourist destinations compared to Cebu and Manila, Davao City has the potentials that keep people from coming.

Tourism XI Director Sonia Garcia said the other two destinations (Manila and Cebu) had been there long before compared to Davao City.

“We do not intend to compete with Manila and Cebu but make Davao as an alternative destination,” she said.

Director Garcia said there’s no problem with domestic air linkages, although there’s still a need to develop access to the sub regions.

Air routes to Hongkong, Singapore, Korea and Thailand are still connected to Manila, however the Davao International Airport is sending positive signal and giving emphasis that Davao City and other places in the region are destinations worthy of travel.

“It is good that Davao had been considered as convention market,” she said.

He said holding of conventions here could bring market to almost everybody from taxi drivers, restaurant, hotels, and even souvenir shops and other tourism service entities.

Director Garcia said that the hotel’s market which is 80 percent corporate can easily shift from business activities to visiting the islands and highlands because of the proximity of the area.

This makes Davao a unique destination because it could offer both business and pleasure even within a five-day visit, she said.

The other market being eyed by the tourism sector is the overseas Filipino workers and other foreigner that has distinct ties with Filipinos like the Japanese and the Chinese and also those within the BIMP EAGA.

“We have to establish Davao as a trade center and when this is in place we can work on the rest that would bring in economic and tourism activities, she added.

The tourism sector, she said is looking at Fil-Americans as a market for real state wherein we are beaming the highland areas as their vacation homes. (PIA)

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