Coming soon: Duterte tour package

MANILA, Philippines – A Duterte tour package in Davao is now being drawn up as the Department of Tourism (DOT) and private sector collaborate to provide extensive information and remove misconceptions about the incoming president.

The DOT, Davao City tourism office and travel operators want a tour that will focus on the life and career of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“We started conceptualizing to organize and package a tour that includes his life story, political highlights, policies, projects and even his home, following increased curiosity of people in Davao,” said DOT-Davao region director Roberto Alabado III.

“People are curious and there’s a big interest in people to see who he is. We want to tell his story,” Alabado, who worked closely with the Duterte family, added.

Duterte’s candidacy has raised awareness of Davao and his winning the presidency made the city an instant tourist destination.

“Before it was very hard to market Davao. But now, Duterte has provided an opportunity to showcase the place,” Alabado said.

He added that hotel accommodations and flights are almost always fully booked and the supposed March-April peak season has been extended and sustained.

“He is definitely the number one promoter. Maybe, people are curious now on his anti-smoking campaign, liquor ban, peace and order and what do these really mean,” Alabado also said.

With the increased attention, the whole Davao region is seen to catch up in terms of visitor arrivals for 2016, targeting more than three million visitors from the 2.8 million recorded last year.

New tourism chief

Duterte announced Monday that Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo will lead the country’s tourism sector.

Teo owns Mt. Apo Travel and Tours and is the president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS), which describes itself as the biggest and the largest travel association in the country.

“Her position as NAITAS president and her experience in handling the tourism establishment business have given her insights and needed experiences so she can lead the whole industry,” Alabado said.

Outgoing Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, who personally knows Teo, said there is “no way but up” in the tourism industry if it will continuously be treated as a business of the people.

“Improve what you see needs improvement and don’t fix what ain’t broke. I have a continuing aspiration that people will believe in the potential of tourism in the country,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez and Teo are set to meet within the week to discuss transition in the department.

Meanwhile, DOT-Cordillera Administrative Region director Marie Venus Tan is hopeful that the industry will continue its upward trend as it breached the two million mark in international arrivals for the first four months of the year.

Foreign visitors in the country totaled to 2.07 million for the January-April 2016 period, or 15 percent higher than the 1.8 million recorded in 2015.

For 2016, DOT has set a new target of 6.5 million international arrivals as it continue to bank on key and emerging source markets as the total receipt is pegged at $6.5 billion.

The DOT-attached agency Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) is also upbeat on the strengthening of convergence programs with the public works and the transportation and communications departments to enhance connectivity.

“Product development of sites, road infrastructure, promotions and halal tourism should also be given priority,” said Nelly Dillera, DOT-Region 12 director.