DTI pushes for agri-tourism to drum up DavNor economy

By Jeanevive D. Abangan

Tuesday 3rd of July 2012

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, July 3 (PIA) -- An official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) opened the idea of combining eco-tourism with agri-industry development to reinvigorate the economy of Davao del Norte.

Keynoting the Kadagayaan Festival opening, DTI undersecretary for regional operations Merly Cruz echoed the need to widen the tourism industry as an area to focus on developing the economy, aside from the existing banana industry.

She said a downside on depending on mono-crop production is the setback faced by the industry after stricter quarantine rules were imposed by foreign markets, like the recent incident with China.

While Cruz underscored that the farming industry would still lead the agriculture-based economy of the Philippines, she urged for the exploration of other areas for development in Davao del Norte, taking into consideration “the strength of each of its 11 towns.”

According to her, for the tourism industry, an average spending per day of P1,000 per visitor would create already a value-adding revenue for the local government of the province.

“Gagawa lang tayo ng atraksyon at dadayuhin tayo (We just need to make an attraction and we visitors will flock),” she said.

In a separate interview, Cruz said tourism and agriculture are major industries that can do well for the Philippine economy.

“These are complementary because when you have tourist, you should have products to sell to them like souvenir items; anything that they feel could be worth buying,” she said in an interview.

If developed in tandem with the tourism industry, agriculture production can serve as an enabling factor for local government units to promote health and wellness that tourists can also enjoy.

“You should also be able to serve them the right food. It’s healthy; it’s something that they can remember as they leave the place,” Cruz said.

Citing the presence of infrastructure and potential on right leadership, she said Davao del Norte would go well in developing the two industries as engines of economic growth.

Cruz said the Davao Region is a priority area for tourism development together with Cebu, Palawan, Cagayan de Oro. (PIA-11/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)