DAVAO CITY- The Davao Cultural Festival (July 15-20) in Singapore aims to promote Davao City as a preferred tourism and investment destinations in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.
The delegation will be led by the Department of Tourism XI, Davao City Tourism Office and is joined by delegates from the private sector coming from Davao City-based hotels, convention facilities and travel and tour agencies.
DOT Assistant Secretary Art Boncato says the want to grow the ASEAN market considering that tourists arrivals from ASEAN countries is not as high compared to other countries.
Boncato attributes the smaller tourism pie to primarily the geographical isolation of the country from ASEAN mainland. Intra-ASEAN land travel involves crossing many countries and destination as compared to visiting the Philippines where because of its archipelagic nature you can just visit a single country.
In 2012, Davao City sent a mission to Singapore which accomplished the promotion of Davao for tourism, investments, linkages between participating sectors. The 2012 mission merited positive response and feedback thus a follow-througb event this time focused on tourism promotion was conceptualized.
According to A DOT-XI statement, Singapore was chosen as the site of the DCF because of connectivity; as being connected to Singapore means being connected to the rest of the world also Singaporeans having the highest disposable incomes in Asia can translate to frequent travels for tourism and business.
Among the key components of the DCF include business-to-business meetings between tour operators and properties of Davao and Singapore, Daily cultural performances highlighting Davao at the Conrad Centennial Hotel by the Kalumon Ensemble and a Davao Food Festival presenting the indigenous cuisine of the ten ten tribes of Davao. (PIA/RG Alama)
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