DAVAO City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) head Generose Tecson said there is a need for more hotels and convention hotels in the city to accommodate a projected increase in tourist arrivals and prospective investors.
"We hope that there would be more entries also of big hotels, especially, big name-brand hotels. Kulang pa rin kahit marami na ring mga malalaking pangalan na ang nagbukas dito sa city (We still lack accommodation facilities despite the opening of big brands in the city)," Tecson said in an interview.
She said convention facilities are also needed in anticipation of an increase in visiting businessmen.
"Syempre dahil sa mga bagong flights natin like Hong Kong and Jinjiang, hindi rin lang mga tourists yan eh, definitely may mga foreign business delegates yan, so kailangan rin ng city ang mga convention facilities (Because of the new flights like Hong Kong and Jinjiang, we know that not only tourists are coming but foreign businessmen as well, so the city needs convention facilities too)," Tecson said.
Last October 31, flights between Davao and Hong Kong by Cathay Pacific were launched, while Davao and Jinjiang direct flights by Xiamen Air will be launched in
December.
"Dapat may sapat na number of hotels rin especially that we're also preparing for Ironman Davao next year in March, may DAVRAA (Davao Region Athletic Association) rin at Palarong Pambansa (We need more hotels especially that we're also preparing for Ironman Davao next year in March. We also have DAVRAA and Palarong Pambansa)," Tecson said.
Meanwhile, the city tourism officer plans to provide more incentives for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (Mice) in the city.
"To also entice more engagements in the city," Tecson added.
