TOURISM stakeholders expressed their dismay over the delay of Davao City tourism master plan.
Its P10-million budget for crafting and implementation was approved by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) in 2017 and was expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2018.
Last week, the tourism stakeholders meeting happened with tourism undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr., tourism assistant secretary Roberto Alabado, and Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao director Tanya Tan and the city’s stakeholders where the matter was brought up.
“[During the tourism stakeholders meeting] we were able to express our dismay over the delay of the tourism master plan. It is out of our hands kasi the bidding was done by Tieza and so we were able to express to them na sana they will help us follow-up with Tieza,” Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) head Generose Tecson, during Habi at Kape media forum yesterday, July 24, 2019.
Most of the tourism stakeholders who attended the meeting were members of the tourism council, sectors in the industry like the transport sector, hotel and accommodation, restaurants, tour guides and others.
Tecson reiterated the need for the city to have a master plan as it covers long-term plans for the city’s marketing, product development, tourism force, tourism budget, financing, government relations, and industry support.
“We have plans for Davao City and we have been very vocal about it. We were already expressing our sentiments na magpadala na ng consultant na qualified to do the master plan since this will become our guide for the next three, five or even 20 years,” Tecson said.
“The master plan will say kung ano na yung status ng industry ngayon, ano na ang mga strong points, weak points that we can improve on, and perhaps to create a branding for the city,” she added.
The master plan will not only further develop and improve the tourism industry in the city but the neighboring areas as well.
“We also market them [neighboring areas] para naman lahat makinabang with Davao City being the gateway,” she said.
When asked about the main cause for the delay, Tecson said it is because the individuals sent to do the master plan are “not qualified enough”.
Tentatively, tourism stakeholders of the city will be meeting with TIEZA on Friday, July 26, to talk about the master plan and the urgency of its completion for the development of the tourism industry of the city.