THE Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao region said the lifting up of the closure orders for inland resorts in Marilog and Paquibato districts will bring more tourists in the Davao City.
DOT-Davao Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan told reporters on Friday, March 8, that it will be an additional tourist destination in the city if these establishments will be allowed to operate again.
“It’s additional destination and it is a beautiful place. It will help [boost tourism],” Rabat-Tan said.
“That would be good and they get accredited and they follow all the licensing requirements of the City and as well as the standards of DOT, it will really help,” she added.
The resolution requesting the concerned government agencies and offices to lift the closure order issued to affected inland resorts was closed in the City Council Tuesday, March 5, as there will still be some sections that needed to be amended.
Councilor Conrado Baluran said in a phone interview on Saturday, March 9, that amendments will include specific mitigating measures to ensure safety of tourists and visitors and to strictly impose environmental policies.
Baluran assured that the owners of the inland resorts are working on an agreement with the City in terms of ensuring safety of tourists such as limiting the area to be for public use.
The item will be transferred under committee on rules, privileges, laws and ordinances chair Councilor Melchor Jay Quitain Jr. to further study its proposed zoning ordinance amendments.
“Ang concern lang man is to protect the owners and visitors. Although ang uban, naga-observe naman og mga mitigating measures (The only concern is to protect the owners and its visitors. Although some have already observed mitigating measures),” Baluran said.
He said the establishments were once part of the tourist destinations in the city, however, the City Council needed to prioritize the safety of visitors after finding out that some have not secured a permit to operate, hence the closure order from the Business Bureau Office on July 21, 2018.
In the committee report on January 25, the Business Bureau Office said due to the closure, the influx of tourist and visitors decreased.
“[It] has a domino effect which likewise adversely affects the economic activity and livelihood of those sectors whose main income is dependent on the operation of inland resorts,” it further states.