Travel expo proves vibrant Davao tourism

By Frances Mae Gevera-Macapagat

 

DAVAO CITY, March 6 (PIA) – The high turnout of travel and tour operators that joined this year’s Mega Travel Sale as initiated by the Davao Association of Tour Operators (DTAA) only showed how tourists still believe in the Davao market.

 

DTAA President Krizia Tan told the media that there are 60 tour operators that participated in the travel expo held from March 2 to 4 at Abreeza Mall. Sixty percent of which came from companies operating outside Davao while the rest are local operators.

 

“ Last year’s participation was mostly companies based in Davao but we are happy now that many from outside the city joined and were happy with the turn out of the expo.”, said Tan.

 

Apart from the different private tour operators that offered affordable rates for travel and tours, three tourism board also took the chance to introduce their tourist destinations to Dabawenyos.

 

Tourism board of Sabah , Malaysia , and Indonesia were around to introduce money-value tour packages.

 

It was also during the opening of the travel expo that Indonesian Consul General in Davao City Eko Hartono announced the re-opening of the Davao-Manado connection. Two flights per week will soon be availed by local travelers going to Manado , the capital of North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

 

Tan and the rest of the local tour operators took it as a welcome development that would further boost tourism in the City.

 

Meanwhile, the Sabah Tourism Board officials also visited the city to assess the viability of a direct flight from Davao to Kota Kinabalu. 

 

The entry of budget airlines like the newest AirAsia that flies Davao-Clark has also contributed to the increasing appreciation of Dabawenyos to travel both domestic and international.

 

Tan explained that local tourists still chose HongKong as the most preferred international destination while most preferred domestic destinations are Bohol, Palawan,  and Boracay.

                                             

DTAA targeted a P10 million gross sales from the travel expo. Tan expects to surpass this target given that participating tour operators have been happy and satisfied with the turn-out during the first two days of the event. (PIA 11/Frances Mae Gevera-Macapagat)