THE Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) reported a significant rise in tourist arrivals in 2024, especially during the Kadayawan Festival.
Jennifer Romero, CTOO officer-in-charge, revealed that August 2024 recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals, with 190,068 visitors, followed by December with 178,555 tourists. She credited this surge to the Kadayawan Festival, the Iron Man event, and other activities held in the same month.
“Ang atoang total number sa tourist arrival sa [The total number of tourist arrivals for) Kadayawan was the highest of the year,” she said during the ISpeak media forum on January 23, 2025, at the CHO Building.
Romero also highlighted a 50 percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2024 compared to the 1.2 million recorded in 2023. She attributed this growth to the city's tourism activities. T
The highest number of tourist arrivals was in 2019, with 2.5 million visitors, and Romero hopes to exceed this figure in 2025, especially with the addition of Duaw Davao.
Romero added that attracting more international tourists to the city faces challenges, including travel advisories for Mindanao issued by other countries.
However, she welcomed Japan's recent downgrade of its travel advisory for the Davao Region from "Level 2" to "Level 1."
She also highlighted the limited number of international flights to the city as another challenge.
Romero noted that Duaw Davao, added to the city's annual events, has contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals.
The city hosts major events throughout the year, including Araw ng Dabaw in the first quarter, Duaw Davao in the second, the Kadayawan Festival in the third, and Pasko Fiesta in the fourth. RGP