DAVAO CITY (PIA) — Private tourism stakeholders in Davao said there is a need for more public and private infrastructure investments in Davao to attract more foreign tourists to come to the region.
“Infrastructure talaga ang isa sa mga challenge natin,” said Pia Partoza Montano, owner of PAR Travel and Tours and the current external vice president of the Davao Travel Agencies Associatoon (DTAA).
Montano says there is a pressing need to improve the Davao International Airport considering that it is the gateway to the region.
“As the gateway, our airports are very important… it is a good impression when we have a good airport,” Montano said.
She hopes that the Davao International Airport Authority will become operational as it would greatly help in improving and expanding the airport. She cited that Cebu and Clark has beautiful airports.
“We really need the boost na talaga Cebu has already done it with their airport, then Clark has it hopefully Davao na yung sunod,” Montano said.
She added “If we have Davao Airport Authority, I believe we will have more opportunities for more flights coming in, kasi ima-market nila is the gateway at the same time the destination, not just Davao City but again the region.”
(from left) Pia Montano, Nicole Ledesma and Alma Uy, the president of the Tagum City Tourism Arts and Culture Council
She said an expanded airport will bring in more flights that could help cut down travel costs.
During the recent Department of Tourism-(DOT) XI-led business mission to Singapore, participated in by several players from the tourism sector, Montano noted that Singaporean tourists value travel affordability, as there are other areas which offer cheaper air fares.
Montano’s view was echoed by Davao Tourism Association (DATA) president Nicole Hao Bian Ledesma, who cited that proximity and air fare costs are major factors for tourists to decide if they would go to Davao.
“Why would they go to Davao that even with a direct flight its three hours and 10 minutes if direct flight from Singapore; if via Manila naman three hours and one
half so bakit siya mag DaDavao when they can even go to Bangkok for like two hours or even go to Bali so the proximity can even be a challenge and there are low cost airlines offering better rate from Singapore to other Asian countries compared to Davao,” Ledesma said
The DATA president said that the government and the private sector must work hand-in-hand in convincing airlines to put more flights to Davao, increasing international connectivity.
“So that the prices the airfare of going to Singapore and back would also go down because they (Singaporeans) were really impressed of what they saw that Davao Region can offer,” she said.
Ledesma and Montano were among the participants in the DOT-XI business mission which was joined by 35 Singaporean travel operators.
Meanwhile, Montano also said that there is a need for private investments in accommodation facilities such as four and five star hotels.
Currently the four and five star hotels in Davao would be fully booked during peak season, they would need more hotels to attract those doing incentive travel.
“Ang sa kanila what activities can you offer to us if we have incentive groups how good are the roads how long is the travel. Do you have hotels. If its incentive travel it starts with 4-star, 5-star hotels,” Montano said.
She added that safety is not an issue for these tourists but they are picky on the quality of the infrastructure in the region. (RGA/PIA Davao)
