DAVAO CITY— Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operations Officer Maria Margarita Nograles are among the confirmed guests during the 50th anniversary celebration of Davao Tourism Association or DATA, this August 12, 2024, at Dusit Thani Davao.
DATA is one of the country’s biggest private sector tourism associations comprising more than 300 member establishments representing tourism companies such as hotels, resorts, cafes, restaurants, travel agencies, schools, and allied businesses.
According to current DATA president Nicole Ledesma, the celebration will showcase DATA’s triumphs in its five decades of existence, and the attendance of the top tourism honchos of the country to the event is a testament to the very fruitful partnership with the government and the private sector in pushing for the growth of Davao City’s tourism industry.
“I think the success of our tourism industry is really the partnership with the government which began when DATA started,” Ledesma said.
DATA was established in 1974 by the heads and managers of the different tourism establishments in Davao, with the goal of strengthening the local tourism industry, and to help the government in promoting the city as a major tourist destination.
Through the years it has created a vibrant partnership with the local government unit and the national government particularly the Department of Tourism in various activities, events, programs and projects.
Among these notable events included the city’s hosting of MICE Convention (MICECON) in 2013 and 2023, and the ASEAN Tourism Forum which Davao City hosted in 2006.
One of DATA’s major accomplishments included initiating a tribal festival in the mid 1970s in cooperation with several indigenous peoples which became the precursor of the famed Kadayawan Festival.
Other DATA initiated events included the Mindanao Travel and Trade Expo in the 1990s, the Mindanao Culinary Festival in the 2000s, and during the pandemic the massive Bakuna by the Sea which vaccinated 12,000 tourism workers in the region.
DATA has also received numerous accolades for its tireless work in advancing the tourism industry in the city.
According to Ledesma, the event will be a meaningful celebration that will help relive the wonderful memories in the past five decades.
“The event will be filled with nostalgia, as we will honor our past presidents, prepared presentations of showcasing our history,” Ledesma said.
“Fifty years is something we should really be proud of, this event will honor the people of DATA past and present, its visionary and committed leaders who steered this organization to what it is today,” Ledesma added.
She said DATA is diligently preparing for the event with DATA past president, restaurateur and tourism primemover Mary Ann Montemayor leading the preparations as the chairperson of the 50th anniversary celebration.
Sec. Frasco and COO Nograles will be joined by 200 guests comprising of DATA members. Also gracing the event are officials from the City Government of Davao, the Department of Tourism and other government agencies. (RG Alama/PIA Davao)
