DAVAO City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) officer-in-charge Lemuel Ontorio said this year they will strengthen their promotions on tourism investment.

“There will be more recreational and tourism facilities which will be put up in the city. Well, on the side of the investment and promotion center, whenever we receive investments looking what potential business to put up here in the city, we always push for the tourism facilities because, based on the records of the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), there is a recorded rise of tourist arrivals in the city especially for foreigners,” Ontorio said Tuesday, January 8, Davao City.

CTOO records show at least 19,572 Americans visited the city from January to November 2018. Japanese visitors numbered 11,903, followed by Chinese (10,034), Koreans (8,038), Australians (6,435), Indians (6,043), Canadians (5,062), Singaporeans (4,556), British (3,837), and Arabs 2,486.

Ontario said as the number of tourists increases, there is a need for the city to be ready.

“Dili lang pud ni siya limited as well sa hotels lang ang need for the investments but also for convention centers since kaning influx of tourists kay mahimong avenue for business delegates pud na mangita og potential future business investments diri sa city (The investments we are looking for are not only hotels but we are also inviting investments on convention centers. The influx of tourists will serve as an avenue for business delegates to look for potential future investments in the city)," Ontario said.

Meanwhile, he said the plan to strengthen the city’s tourism industry is part of the proposed revision of the Davao City Investment Incentive Code which will be passed not later within the first quarter of 2019.