Davao Region is among ATF 2016 focus destinations

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2016/01/16/davao-region-among-atf-2016-focus-destinations-452041
• Saturday, January 16, 2016

By Ace June Rell S. Perez

DAVAO Region will be one of four Philippines’ top tourist destinations that will be showcased during the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Tourism Forum (ATF), an international tourism gab slated on January 18 to 26, 2016, to be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza and SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) office in Davao and its private partners will showcase the best of the region’s unique mix of diversity, both in landscape and in culture.

Other major tourist destinations in the country that will be showing a strong presentations and promotions during the post ATF tour are Palawan, Cebu, and Bohol.

Roberto P. Alabado III, DOT Davao regional director, told Sun.Star Davao in an interview that some 19 delegates of ATF has confirmed attendance to the prepared post ATF tour on January 23 to 26.

“Last week, we had a talk to the tour organizers, they already finished the site inspection, and we prepared the best in our region to promote our region as one of the major tourist hubs in the Southeast Asia.

The 19 delegates from different countries will visit Davao region’s Philippine Eagle Center, Malagos Garden Resort, Pearl Farm Resort, Banana Plantation and Hijo Plantation tour, and Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) Ecofusion facility at the Abreeza Mall of Davao.

Delegate will also taste the Davao’s very own exotic fruit, Durian. In a separate interview, Mary Ann “Baby” Montemayor, president of the Davao Region Tourism Council and Davao Ecocrafts Association Inc. (DEA) that during the visit, the ATF delegates will witness a tribal living museum.

“In Abreeza Ayala Mall we are doing a tribal living museum, this activity will showcase culture and arts,” she said, adding that tourists is always looking for shopping where there is culture.

Also the region’s micro entrepreneurs and their products will take center stage during the visit.

“It will be experiential because we are doing some bead-making, weaving, handmade paper making, and then we will let them try to do it,” she added. In 1996, Davao City was successful in hosting the international forum; Montemayor described it as one of the most memorable ATF hosting as several years after people are still talking about the event.

This year, ATF centers on a theme “One Community for Sustainability.” It represents the region’s thrust to become a “10-in-one” destination in the global market.

The tourism forum will highlight the adoption of the Asean tourism strategic plan which will provide a framework for regional tourism development from 2016 to 2020, envisioning Southeast Asia into “a quality tourism destination offering a unique, diverse” experience by 2020.