THE Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) warned tourists from booking island hopping tours through online.
CTOO head Generose Tecson said the tourism office is cracking down tour operators offering online booking who are reportedly non-compliant with the city's necessary permit to operate such as Business Permit from the Davao City Business Bureau (CBB) and tourism licenses from CTOO and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
"Kino-caution natin yung general public consumers natin, especially 'yung bisita natin against getting tours from sources like this. Di natin alam kung mapapangalagaan natin sila, if mako-comply ba nila yung mga itineraries na nakalagay doon (We are cautioning the general public especially our tourists from getting their tours from sources like this. We cannot ensure their safety if they are not registered. Also we don't know if they will also comply with their stated itineraries)," Tecson said during the iSpeak media forum at the City Hall of Davao Thursday, July 4.
But she said the same problem goes out as well to those with physical stores.
CTOO enforced the Ordinance 0231-14, series of 2014, or "The Ordinance Amending the Tourism Code of Davao" last March this year, mandating all tourist transport operators to secure a valid Mayor's Permit to conduct business in the city.
The ordinance also requires all fluvial transport vehicles (bancas), utilized for the purpose of tourist water transport to register and secure a license with the CTOO.
Under the ordinance, bancas with no permits will not be allowed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to dock at the wharf.
Tecson said the order also aims to regulate and monitor them as the city has an increased number of tourists yearly.
The tourism officer said there are already 50 out of more than 100 boat operators who secured permits.
She said CTOO and CBB conducted an inspection last Saturday at the Sta. Ana Pier wherein they were able to discover some tour guides and operators who do not possess business permits to support their operations.
Tecson said the City Government of Davao reiterates its warning against unregistered operators.
"We're giving them warnings for now. We won't do that for the longest run. Next month, we will be starting imposing," she said.
She also warned tourists to ensure the tour boats they will book are registered and also urged them to be suspicious especially on overly cheap booking fees.