A DAVAO City councilor claims tourism has suffered due to a certain agency’s refusal to grant clearance for national functions and conventions.
Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, chair of the tourism and beautification committee, said many organizers have withdrawn their events because they weren’t given the necessary support.
“Honestly yes, kasi they are pressuring all the businessmen and even those ginatawag nato na mga conventions na dili nila gusto ipahigayon sa siyudad sa Davao (They are pressuring businessmen and even conventions they don’t want held in Davao),” Alejandre said on Aprubado sa Konseho on March 18, 2025 at the Sanguniang Panlungsod.
According to Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions (Mice) operators, multiple conventions were canceled due to a lack of endorsement from this unnamed agency. Alejandre questioned why the city was discouraged from hosting events despite its stable peace and order situation.
He revealed that this issue has been ongoing since last year, significantly impacting Davao’s tourism. While the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) recorded 1.8 million tourist arrivals in 2024, Alejandre said that Mice events are crucial in boosting numbers further.
He also noted that some visitors have arrived in the city to support former President Rodrigo Duterte, with many attending night prayer rallies since March 11, 2025.
Meanwhile, Councilor Lorenzo Villafuerte, chair of the civil, political, and human rights committee, responded to Australia’s travel advisory on Mindanao, citing demonstrations and potential civil unrest.
He assured that all rallies in Davao have been peaceful and believes Australia is merely exercising caution.
“Australia is just being cautious and issuing warnings to tourists that there might be civil unrest here in the Philippines, but so far we have seen videos that all of these rallies have been peaceful,” he said.
Alejandre acknowledged that the advisory might impact tourism but remains hopeful that Davao can still meet its 2.5 million visitor target.
Davao City hosted a Mice event in 2012 and later the Mice Conference in 2013, which helped position the city as a prime destination for major conventions. RGP