Davao City — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is seeing bright prospects in local inbound tourism with the advent of low airline fares.
DOT undersecretary Oscar Palabyab has announced that the airline companies’ low fares have created new markets, particularly in locals travelers. “Dati yung hindi nakakabiyahe, nakakabiyahe na. (Those who could not travel in the past can already travel.)
While various regions have experienced a slump in tourism arrivals, Davao region saw a 10.81 percent increase in visitor arrivals, according to last year’s figures. 93 percent of the total visitors are domestic tourists.
DOT-Southern Mindanao director Sonia Garcia said that Davao region will continue to be an attractive tourist destination, branding the tourism sector as the driver of the region’s economy.”
Palabyab said that these top destinations were former missionary routes of airlines so-called because servicing it entails the expectations of a very small or a losing margin of profit. Now airlines like Zestair and Cebu Pacific are servicing these tourism growth areas.
The Tourism undersecretary also said that the growth of domestic tourism would result in the growth of the local economy. “If we can harness more than 20 million domestic tourists it could greatly help in creating livelihood opportunities for many Filipinos.
He said that tourism is an integral part of the government’s economic resiliency program, since tourism generates job opportunities particularly for Filipinos affected by the global economic crisis.
Palabyab cited that, in Cebu, the tourism sector has not retrenched its workers, as several industries like the export sector have. He also cited the case of neighboring Thailand, where it was the tourism industry that saved the nation from the devastating 1997 Asian economic crisis.
Palabyab said that, aside from Davao and Cebu, travelers also flock to favorite local destinations like Boracay and Bohol.(PIA XI)
