The Department of Tourism and
Southern Mindanao’s local government units (LGUs) as well
as the private sector will take the lead in the bringing the
best of Region 11 to the Visit Philippines 2003 in Intramuros
from Nov. 3-18.
The Best of Southern Mindanao
will have a soft opening on November 3 featuring the Fishtahan
Food Festival at the Manila Pavilion and Photo Exhibit featuring
a Tribute to Davao Visual Artists.
A grand parade festival dubbed
as “Madayaw Sa Dabaw” follows on Nov. 6 during the
Grand Launching featuring the different festivals of the region’s
different provinces namely Davao del Sur’s Kadayawan Festival
and Kapiyaan Festival, Davao del Norte’s Banana Festival,
Davao Oriental’s Sambuokan Festival, Samal’s Pangapog
Festival, Compostela Valley’s Ani Bina Festival among others,
and fashion as well as food and handicrafts will take centerstage
in the tourism fair and exhibit.
Some of the highlights of the
best of the Southern Mindanao region are the Japanese Centennial
Celebration dubbed as Davao Kuo on Nov. 10 and the the Davao
Congressional spouses to be featured in a Davao Fashion Show
on Nov. 11.
The DOT Region 11 has allocated
P4.7 million for the event to be able to set up the region’s
best exhibits, cultural markets, cultural performances, street
festivals, cultural parades, live band performances, craft demonstration
and garden shows during the two-week activity.
Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon
said the “Tourism activities in Davao region will get a
big boost with the national and the local government entities
pitching in million of pesos to showcase the region’s vast
tourism potentials before the local and foreign audience in Intramuros.”
DOT Regional Director Sonia Garcia,
meanwhile said, “This is one big event that will dispel
the negative misconception against Davao and Mindanao as a whole
but will definitely restore the region’s status in the world
map. I am glad that our partners have realized the vital role
tourism plays in advancing our region’s economy.”
A total of P4.4 million have
been earmarked by the four provinces of region 11 including Davao
City to highlight Island to highland destinations, cultural and
culinary attractions and a thousand other reasons why one must
make Davao a choice for business and leisure.
The ‘WOW Dabaw’ gets
a big boost from the National Independent Travel Agent Association
(NITAS) which had earlier committed their support to promote
Davao as a destination.
The WOW Dabaw showcase includes
four major components namely, Make it Davao designed for meetings,
incentives. Conventions, and events market for Davao’s bid
as convention city, Islands to Highlands Destination Discovery,
Adventure Davao and Wild Over Waling-Waling , all of which incorporate
the promotional packages for the region’s destinations for
the hub and the countryside.
The event is a perfect vehicle
for tour operators and travel trade people to discover the best
of the regions not only in terms of eco-tourism destination promotions
but also for prospective trade investment opportunities.
