Saturday, August 11, 2007 Durano graces travel, tour expo opening By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE 2nd Mindanao Travel and Tour Exposition (MTTE) formally opened Friday at the SM City Davao Entertainment Plaza, graced by Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ace Durano.
"Mindanao is a very blessed place. This, I realized, as I traveled in Lake Sebu, General Santos City, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Koronadal City, and the Davao Region," Durano said in Friday's MTTE opening.
The expo is participated in by various tour and travel companies in Mindanao.
Durano said DOT will continue what it started in 2005 when it chose Davao City to host the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) in the same year.
"We will not stop until Davao Region will become an international destination," Durano said.
He said DOT has ongoing activities and initiatives to further promote Davao's tourism industry.
"To make sure that we build the momentum, we are currently working with tour operators to expand their product offerings. This year, we have arrangement to open flights from Shanghai to Davao," Durano said, adding that tour operators are very receptive with such move.
He said that they are working on with the idea because Shanghai is considered to be the gateway for Davao, which can be used to bring Russian tourists in the region.
"With the opening of Shanghai to Davao flights, we can also open up flights from Davao to Far Eastern Russia. Shanghai is the gateway to bring Russian tourists," he said.
MTTE will run from August 10 to 12. It is one of the events, highlighting the Kadayawan Festival.
