THE DAVAO City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) is targeting a 7% increase in tourist arrivals in 2018 from last year’s two million record. “We are aiming for a 7% increase… We need to sustain the two million tourist arrivals mark of last year so we’re doing the best for this year,” CTOO head Generose D. Tecson told the media. Ms. Tecson said the meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions (MICE) segment is the city’s big ticket to attracting more visitors, but there is a need for more facilities to cater to this market. “We need more convention facilities, more branded hotels, even in the transport sector … even tour guides, and we also need more people who will cater to souvenir items,” she said. The CTOO is currently working on a tourism master plan after the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) approved a P10-million fund for the project. Ms. Tecson said they aim to have the road map ready by the third quarter this year. — Maya M. Padillo

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