Davao tourism gets nod from international travel agents

Davao promoted as key sports destination in Asia

Source: www.gov.ph - Davao City - June 16, 2005

Davao Philippines tourism industry earned the nod of international tour and travel agents after offering the south's sports tourism destination as the new product of the Philippines.

Mary Anne Montemayor, president of the Southern Philippines Tourism Council who headed the trade mission in HongKong last June 9 to 12 said that they were able to draw interests from tourists who are looking for a new product.

She said tourists and the agents knew that diving and playing golf in Davao is less expensive and that the city and its neighboring areas have good golf courses and dive sites.

She said the golf and dive events are the packages that the Davao tourism sector can sell in the foreign market.

Montemayor said that PAL in partnership with Asiana will also bring in two batches of HongKong based tour operators so they can effectively sell and promote Davao.

The first charter flight is expected in July while the familiarization tour which will include reporters will be in August, this year.

She said the Davao group got a commitment from PAL HongKong to bring to the city a plane load of golfers and divers in time for the Chinese New Year next year.

"Getting a firm commitment from an airline where they will charter a flight in-bound to Davao is a major accomplishment of the trade mission," she said.

She said PAL HongKong officials will also include leisure visitors as among those they will invite for the chartered flight.

"Help us roll the red carpet for the visitors the moment they arrive Davao so that we can have a repeat of their visit to our city" she said. (PIA/pdb)