THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism-Davao (DoT-11) will tap the assistance of local governments units (LGUs) to fast-track the accreditation of more tourism establishments in the region, including accommodations, transport services, and dining places. “We seek for the support of the provinces and LGUs. I guess that is one of the things that will help, plus double the effort of our team,” DoT-Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan, speaking in mixed Filipino and English, said in an interview Friday on the sidelines of the Davao Tourism Industry Gathering 2019. Ms. Tan reported that there are currently 316 accredited tourist establishments, up 83% from last year’s 173. DoT-11 is targetting an increase of at least 50% next year. Ms. Tan said the accreditation process, which involves checking permits and site inspection, could be completed faster with help from officials of the provinces, cities, and municipalities. “It’s really taxing because they (DoT team) have to visit and really check. We really have procedures to follow and we don’t just come up to that figure,” she said.

MICE PROMOTION
Ms. Tan said certifying tourism establishments is crucial as they beef up promotional efforts, particularly for the meetings incentives conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector. The DoT regional office will also continue focusing on marketing the Davao Region for its food, nature destinations, and cultural attractions. “What we want for a certain destination is to be market-ready. And when we say market-ready, it should be foreign market, although the domestic is also big,” Ms. Tan said. The DoT has recorded over three million visitors so far this year. Next year, the DoT will help the provincial governments of Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental formulate their respective tourism development plans alongside the drafting of the Davao Regional Tourism Development Plan and Development of Cultural Hub Master Plan. Ms. Tan said they will also be working on five projects that was evaluated and endorsed by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). — Maya M. Padillo

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