TOURIST arrivals in Davao Region reached a total of 714,887 for the first quarter (Q1) of this year (January to March), a hike of 81 percent as compared to 395,145 during the same period in 2015.
Of the figure, domestic travelers totaled 608,118, a 67 percent increase as compared to 2015’s Q1 data at 363,806, while overseas or “Balikbayan” posted some 30 percent increase at 4,160 as against last year’s 3,181 arrivals.
The tourist arrivals from foreign visitors, burgeoned a 264 percent; 102,609 as compared with last year at only 28,158.
According to the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao data, the top five foreign markets for the first quarter this year were United States of America (19,858), Japan (12,198), Korea (6,915), China (8,063) and Australia (5,115).
Most of the tourists were reported in Davao City (64 percent), followed by Davao Oriental (13 percent), Davao del Norte (11 percent), Compostela Valley (11 percent) and Davao del Sur (1 percent).
For the year 2015, tourist arrivals reached to a total of 2,838,489, bulk of which is contributed by the domestic travelers.
DOT-Davao Director Roberto Alabado III, in a phone interview Tuesday, October 4, with VoxPop Davao said they expect the tourist arrivals to grow further by the end of the year.
“We are projecting an annual 10 percent increase,” he said adding at least 3 million guests are expected by the yearend.
In a previous interview, Alabado said, they will continue to promote Davao Region as one of the top tourist destination in the country.
He also said Davao City has now becoming known as meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions destination which can also propel the influx of visitors.
More tourists are expected by 2017 as Davao Metro Shuttle will be launched in March next year the Mindanao Tour Bus program.
The program, which is supported by the DOT, aimed to move tourists all over Mindanao by taking missionary routes to tourist destinations.
The route will start from Davao City going to Buda-Bukidnon-Cagayan de Oro-Butuan and back to Davao.
Also, DOT-Davao geared toward launching more international direct flights to Davao City especially within the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines East Asean Growth Area.
Eden David, DOT-Mindanao officer in charge, said this is part of the agency's thrust of improving air connectivity and increasing foreign tourist arrivals.
“We are in talks currently with the airlines. This is to be able DOT to come up with the business cases that we presented in the airlines particularly those flying within the Bimp-Eaga route,” she said.
David said they are eyeing Manado-Sandakan-Zamboanga; Kota Kinabalu- Puerto Princesa, Palawan-Cebu; and Jakarta-Manado-Davao routes.
Last September 28, Xiamen Air had its “testing flight” between Xiamen, China and Davao City. The second flight is expected to board this October 5.
The direct flight (Xiamen to Davao) boarded some 80 Chinese businessmen and visitors.
