"Tourism is always an experience. We are now building, gathering data to see what is feasible," city tourism officer Giovanni Aportadera said at the launch of DaWow on August 29 at the NCCC Mall Cinema 1.
Aportadera is optimistic that they will achieve their goals, outlining at least 10 points that set the city apart from the rest.
In his presentation, Aportadera outlined the following reasons that make Davao City unique and the program doable:
* Davao City is a typhoon-free zone and enjoys good weather all year round;
* There is an abundance of flora and fauna as well as food, water and livelihood;
* Davao City's tap water has been tested internationally for quality and adjudged the best in terms of cleanliness, safety, mineral content and taste certified no less by the World Health Organization;
* Davao City is home to at least 10 major indigenous tribes, as well as migrant settlers from all over the Philippines and a growing global community of expatriates with different languages, cultural traditions, religious beliefs and political persuasions;
* The local government of Davao City is much admired by other governments, not just nationally but also internationally;
* Davao City has one of the lowest crime rates in the world averaging at 0.8 in every 10,000 persons per month.
The Davao City Police Office has consistently been chosen as the Best Police Office in the entire country.
Aportadera also said the city is proud to be the only Asian city that has an integrated emergency response system similar to that of the United States and Canada -- the Central 911.
The name Davao is the toponymic (the scientific study of place-names, its origins, meanings and use) word coming from the Bagobo "duhwow" that refers to a place "beyond the high grounds". Thus Dawow was hatched.
"Our aim is for a unified campaign for all Dabawenyos," he said in his speech. "If we can cut the same experience to one visitor so he can tell ten others and multiply it 100 times over, we can achieve this goal."
"In Mindanao, there is no doubt that Davao City is firmly established as the major city in terms of trade, commerce, and tourism. As far as the Asean is concerned, Davao City is recognized as the Philippines' getaway to the East Asean Growth Area," he added.
