THE City Council of Davao approved on Friday under suspended rules an ordinance authorizing City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Davao for a financial contribution to the World Travel Market (WTM) held at Excel London in the United Kingdom last November 4 to 7.
Based on the copy of the ordinance, the total space rental and construction of the DOT during the WTM was P22,750 per square meter (sq.m.). The total cost reached P568,750 since DOT occupied a 25 sq.m. space in the four-day fair.
Hence, the DOT has asked the Davao City to contribute its share amounting to P148,750.
The P148,750 will cover the 25 sq.m. pavilion designed and prepped up with basic amenities by and its assigned contractor/designer; provision of a maximum of four B2B negotiation areas (table with two chairs each); provision of a maximum of 12 exhibitor badges; permission/consent to hold a “Fun Day” within the Philippine pavilion, either with a hosted cocktail reception or a booth animation at the expense of DOT; use of AVP presentation to be shown in the LED TV and augmented facility within the Philippine pavilion; and endorsement of participants to the British Embassy for visa issuance.
Lisette Marques, City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) officer-in-charge, told Sun.Star Davao that the contribution is just a part of the entire exhibit which the DOT prepared for the promotion of the city.
Leading global travel event for the travel industry WTM had a total of 47,425 participants and 28,780 visitors from 184 countries.
The item was proposed by Councilor Tomas Monteverde IV.