DESPITE its prominence as a tourism destination, Davao city is listed among the most underrated places in Asia.
According to CNN Travel, the city is part of the 18 places considered as underrated travel destinations based on the responses of their network of colleagues and contributors about where the locals go.
Also in the list with Davao City are Ipoh, Malaysia; Isaan, Thailand; Leshan, China; Skardu, Pakistan; Nikko, Japan; Dalat, Vietnam; Meghalaya, India; Palau Ubin, Singapore; Samosir Island, Indonesia; Pakse, Laos; Bangladesh; Tengchong, China; Gogunsan Islands, South Korea; Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam; Kenting, Taiwan; Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia; and Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Davao City was included in the list as it serves as the fruit basket in Mindanao and a melting pot of diverse cultures of the tri-people in Mindanao - Christians, Muslims, and Lumad.
The city also serves as a gateway to other renowned islands to highlands destinations within Davao Region and in Mindanao such as Siargao, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, and Camiguin, among others.
It is also a hub of gastronomic experiences and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (mice) activities.
Davao City Tourism Operations Office Head Jennifer Romero said that the city being tagged as “underrated” by an international body could be a result of the issuance of travel advisories where most foreign visitors are not encouraged to visit Davao being situated at the southernmost part of Mindanao, thus the wrong global perception that the city is dangerous due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
“Some international visitors directly fly to the capital city Manila, to a few cities in the Visayas, having missed the chance to explore the paradise that Mindanao has to offer,” she said.
She, however, welcomes this list as positive news “that will propel us to work and push forward to full tourism recovery.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism-Davao reported that tourist arrivals from January to August 2022 have achieved a growth rate of 70 percent to 602,483 tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2021 at 354,518 visitors.
As of October, Davao City remained as the leading area in the Davao region in tourism arrivals which generated a total of 200,800 visitors. It was followed by Davao del Norte at 166, 853 visitors, then Davao de Oro with 115, 354 arrivals, Davao Oriental at 106,143 arrivals, and Davao del Sur at 13,333 tourists.
During a town hall meeting on December 9, Tanya Virginia P. Rabat-Tan, regional director of DOT-Davao, laid out her plans for the development of local tourism in the region.
In a presentation, she said the region is focused on strengthening nature tourism and sun and beach in Mati, Davao Oriental; cultural tourism and MICE tourism in Davao city; eco-adventure, dive and marine sport tourism in Samal island; and farm tourism in Davao del Norte.
Tan envisioned Davao region to be the next tourism hub in the world as she encouraged the newly-designated and confirmed Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to establish vital diplomatic relations and partnerships with other countries to promote tourism. (JDC)