DAVAO CITY — This city will continue to be a haven for new investments especially in the field of tourism-related business ventures.
Lawyer Domingo Duerme, Senior Assistant Vice-President for Mindanao Sales of the Philippine Air Lines (PAL), express this optimism Wednesday morning at the launching of the PAL photo exhibit at SM Mall highlighting the Asian first airliner’s “rich historical legacy of PAL to the Filipino nation.”
He cited as one barometer for good business climate the brisk travel industry especially air travel which is PAL’s major domain.
Duerme also expects more hotel and restaurant operators to put up their businesses here. He also sees the rise of more golf courses and retirement havens among foreigners.
Lawyer Duerme, who is currently president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Incorporated, noted the increasing presence here of foreign visitors especially South Koreans.
At the city’s main port of entry which is the Davao International Airport, the PAL executive noted that the South Koreans is fast approaching the same level as that of the Japanese in terms of tourist arrivals.
They usually come here first as tourist and then come back as investors, the PAL executive indicated.
Good business climate is when foreigners come to travel here and see for themselves the main ingredients for doing good business at work, Duerme added.
He cited as one major attraction of Davao City the peace and security being enjoyed by both businessmen and residents aside from the tax holidays offered by the city investment promotion program. (PIA XI/Romy Sabaldan)
