PHILIPPINE Sports Tourism Awards founder Charles Lim said on Wednesday, June 21, sports tourism can work in Davao City.
Lim told reporters during Wednesday’s Habi at Kape media forum at the Abreeza-Ayala Mall that now is the perfect time for the city to bank on sports tourism as it can draw tourists from national and international market.
“Sports tourism is a niche market; it features adventure activities to invite potential tourists. Davao should concentrate on this among all types of tourism,” Lim said.
He added that this market is fast-growing. With this, a sports tourism forum will be staged in the city on July 25 at Grand Menseng Hotel.
Davao City Sports Development officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera said the forum aims to spread awareness about the gains and potentials of sports tourism, preparing Davao to be a sports tourism destination.
Topics during the one-day forum will be centered on developing events as a tourism product; planning, staging, and managing sports events with emphasis on sponsorship strategies and event marketing; evaluating present sports facilities and sports tourism products; interaction with local government unit’s sports and tourism agencies; working with and seeking endorsements from national sports associations; spirit of volunteerism and some case studies.
“Now is the time for sports tourism because we have the support of our President (Rodrigo Duterte) tourism secretary Wanda Teo and Philippine Sports Commission chair William Ramirez, all coming from Davao City,” she said.
The panel of speakers includes Lim, Aportadera, Princess Galura, general manager of Sunrise events; Jude Turcuato, senior vice president and general manager of Fox Networks Group Philippines; Department of Tourism-Davao regional director Roberto Alabado III; and Generose Tecson, Davao City Tourism officer.
For interested parties, call 0932461303 or email selrahcopr@gmail.com or Apollo.sehrahco@gmail.com for more details.