DOT Sec. Jimenez to grace MinTTE 2012 at SM Davao

 DAVAO CITY – Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. is definitely gracing the Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MinTTE) 2012 set on August 17 to 19 at The Atrium Annex of SM City Davao.

This was confirmed yesterday by Department of Tourism Region 11 Director Art Boncato at the Kapehan sa SM City Davao.

Boncato announced it together with Charito Aranda, president of the Dabaw Tourism Operators Association (Dabtoa), which is organizing the three-day MinTTE 2012.

“Jimenez will arrive on the second day already,” Aranda said.

Boncato, however, will attend the opening ceremony on Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. together with Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian.

Joining the event are the key players in the tourism and trade related industries from all over the country and some selected international guest exhibitors.

Lawyer Domingo Duerme and businesswoman Elizabeth Dureza will also make their first back-to-back visual art exhibit entitled "D2D: The Duerme-Dureza Art Exhibit".

“A painting by Mayor Sara (Duterte) will also be on display in the exhibit,” Aranda said.

Aside from the different booths, the Tribu K’Mindanawan will also perform a cultural dance number and a Hip-Hop Dance Inter-School contest will be conducted on Aug. 17.

On Aug. 18, a tourism forum will be made by the Sta. Cruz Tourism, Davao del Norte Tourism, Halal Culture and Practices and HSRMA, while performances will be made by the Voicework Theater Company, Tieza Dance Group and the Bonjee Magic Show.  

The finals of the Hip-Hop Dance will be on Aug. 19 followed by the awarding of prizes including the Best Dressed Booth and the Zumba Party by Beefit Gym in MinTTE.

Raffles, games and product presentation are also included in the event held in celebration of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

Cebu Pacific Air is the main presentor while the co-presentor is the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.  It is supported by the City Mayor's Office, Department of Tourism, SM City Davao, Philippines Air Lines, Air Asia, Air Philippines, Zest Air and Via Philippines. For more inquiry, contact mobile nos. 09228577868 (Lino) or 09228434561 (Chato).