PIA Press Release
2008/04/29
By Prix D Banzon
Davao City (29 April) -- Davao City has still to come up with its master plan on tourism where its details how to position the city in the next five years.
City tourism head Rizal Giovanni Aportadera at the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday at SM City's Kafe Rysus said although there is an existing framework they still need to bring it to the different sector.
"We are still deliberating on which aspect of tourism we want to push. But personally I support the councilors program of pushing more for an environmental friendly Davao City. We aim to finish the plan this year," he said.
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) chair Simeon Marfori said tourism is their priority this year and in fact they partner with PAHRDF (Philippine-Australian Human Resource Development Facility) for a long term tourism scholarship program.
But he said Davao City should not change because of tourism but on what the city has
He said there has to be a tourist experience and this is the thing that we should offer to our visitors.
"With the completion of a master plan this will really engage everybody in the city," he said.
Councilor Leo Avila III on the other hand said as far as the Davao Gulf is concerned they aim for "going green" saying they need to come up with standards on how a resort along the Gulf would work on the environmental plan.
He said these areas are sites that tourists frequently visit even as he said with their being conscious on environmental protection they (tourists) would rather spend their money for environment friendly establishments.
Aportadera meanwhile said that although most of the coastal tourism sites like beaches are located in the Island Garden City of Samal he said they are willing partners with the neighboring cities and provinces to ensure that visitors both local and international get the best experience. (PIA)
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