Davao pushed as top Phl shopping destination

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) is promoting Davao City as a prime shopping destination as it plays host to the first four-week-long shopping frenzy in the Philippines.

DOT assistant secretary Arturo Boncato Jr. said in a press conference that the event is expected to boost local tourism in the city by at least 15 percent.

Last year, the city held a similar sale event during the celebration of Araw ng Dabaw, attracting some 170,000 tourists into the city.

Boncato said this year’s sale event would likely surpass the previous tourists arrival level and hit the 190,000 mark.

“It did not take long for all seven malls to join forces and partner with the DOT in positioning Davao City as a shopping destination in the country. When the country’s largest malls started opening up in the city over the last two years, competition became stiff that Dabawenos, closest to two million of them, may not suffice to sustain the malls’ viability. This reality in Davao’s retail industry of late caught the attention of all these mall executives to formally organize the RAD and partner with us in conceptualizing the Big Davao Fun Sale to attract foreign tourist and shoppers outside of Davao,” Boncato said.

He said the city currently has 6,500 room accommodations and 34 flights a day from all over the Philippines. Davao International Airport recently opened flights from Singapore.

Power supply, he said, is also not a problem as they have their own back-up power station located within the city. “Davao City is one of the few cities in the South which has practically no power supply problem,” he added.

The DOT official also assured the safety and security in the city. “That is foremost on our agenda. That’s a nice thing that we have tied up with the local government of Davao. This event has become an integral part of the Araw ng Dabaw celebration wherein a very stringent public safety program would be deployed,” he said.

The event will start on March 14, just two days before the Araw ng Dabaw, and will last until April 16, a day before Holy Week begins.

Geared towards establishing the city as a unique, fun and preferred shopping and dining destination in the country and improving the image of Davao as a thriving destination for business and investment, the city’s major malls will be offering fantastic deals such as unique activities, freebies, awards and parties.

With discounts up to as high as 80 percent, participating markets include Abreeza Mall, Gaisano Mall of Davao, GMall of Toril, NCCC Mall Robinsons, SM City of Davao and SM Lanang Premier. Aside from the huge discounts, shoppers would also have a chance to win raffle prizes such as iphone 5 units, all-expense paid trips, and cash prizes worth up to P100,000.