Lifting martial law in Mindanao will push future Korean trade projects and lure more tourists to Davao City.
This is according to South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man emphasizing businesses, especially foreign investments, will further flourish in Davao City and Mindanao in general once martial law will be lifted.
“I ask the government to lift martial law accordingly, so that businesses can come and visit Davao City,” Dong-man said on Thursday, August 23, during a media forum on Philippines-Korea relations at the Ateneo de Davao University, Davao city.
Han said the sought-after beaches and top tourist spots in the city are seen as good potential business opportunities in boosting Davao city’s tourism sector.
He also added there is still fear for some tourists to come in Mindanao because of martial law.
With the ambassador’s visit in the city, he assured Dabawenyos that he will bring in more tourists as the years come by, and will eventually continue to promote tourism in the country.
“With my talk with President (Rodrigo) Duterte, I promised him to bring in two million Koreans per year to visit this great country with your wonderful tourist destinations,” Han said.
According to the Korean embassy, Korea is the top tourist market of the Philippines since 2010. Last year, there are about 1.6 million Korean visitors in the country. Korea is also the fourth largest trading partner of the Philippines next to China, Japan, USA; the highest import source; and fifth highest export destination of the Philippines.
Based from the embassy’s data, an amount of $10.51 billion of total trade was generated between Korea and Philippines for 2016. This increased into a total trade amount of $14.3 billion last year.
“I look forward in the future for more people from Korea will come and visit this great city,” Han Dong-man said.