THE Francisco Bangoy International Airport, or the Davao International Airport, plans to open the renovated north wing area in anticipation of the upcoming major city-wide events this March 2023.
The soft opening of the north wing is intended to accommodate more passengers since the city is expecting an influx of tourists in March.
Rex Obcena, manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in Davao (CAAP-Davao), said on Thursday, February 9 that the north wing of the airport will expand the check-in area.
"As of now, hindi pa open but we plan to have a soft opening on or before February 28," Obcena told VoxPop Davao via text message.
On March 1 to 3, Davao City is holding the Philippine MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions) Conference.
The Ironman 70.3 Davao is also set on March 26 while Araw ng Dabaw celebrations are from March 1 to 18.
With these events leading the tourism activities in Davao City for 2023, the City Tourism Operations Office forecasts around 1.8 million tourists expected to arrive this year.
"The strength of Davao City is through Mice events, naa'y local meetings, daghan ta'g naka-schedule na conventions even in the first quarter and second quarter [of this year], and hopefully padayon ni siya for the entire year (we have local meetings, we have a lot of scheduled conventions in the first and second quarter and hopefully it will continue for the rest of the year," CTOO head Jennifer Romero said. ICM
