HOTELS in Davao City are almost fully occupied this Christmas, the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) announced.
CTOO head Generose Tecson said the city has already reached an estimated 80 to 90-percent hotel occupancy as of Thursday, November 21.
Tecson said they are “happy” with the result despite some reported booking cancellations brought about by the recent earthquakes that hit Mindanao in October.
“We do get inquiries sometimes on the situation of Davao City. Sometimes they would be asking when the next earthquake will strike,” she said, adding that they “politely” answer these inquiries.
The tourism officer said they are expecting more than 200,000 tourist arrivals in December to celebrate Christmas here.
The projected data of which is based solely on hotel occupancies.
Tecson said CTOO is experiencing challenges in data gathering, considering the expansion of home-sharing online applications and condominium units leased out as lodging spaces.
“By next year, we will be strictly implementing that these spaces should get a business permit from the city,” she said.
“Because we really on hotel occupancy reports, these hotels that partnered with home-sharing apps, eto iyon ‘yung hirap kunan ng statistics (these are the ones we are hardly getting statistical figures),” she added.
She said December is a “peak season” for tourists, apart from March and August, wherein the city celebrates the Araw ng Dabaw and Kadayawan sa Dabaw, respectively.
While she said it is normal that there will be shortage in room occupancies, however, this issue is being addressed.
The city, meanwhile, launched the Pasko Fiesta Friday, November 22, wherein different Christmas activities will be organized by the city government.
Tecson said she hopes that the city’s Christmas festival will attract more tourists. (RGL)