By Daisy Jane M. Apit and Myrah G. Acuzar
Davao Today interns
DAVAO CITY – The Department of Tourism Region 11 appraised this summer’s Big Davao Fun Sale boosted sales in Davao malls.
Speaking at the Club 888 business forum, marketing directors from various malls said the first Fun Sale hosted by the DOT increased food traffic and tourist shoppers.
The Big Davao Fun Sale featured month long sales on various products that started on March 14. Participating malls were Abreeza Mall, Gaisano Mall of Davao, Gaisano Mall of Toril, NCCC Mall, Robinsons Supermarket, SM City of Davao and SM Lanang Premier.
The marketing executives also said this event created better relationship among participating malls.
“It was fun to see all the malls working together and competing with each other. At the same time we were able to see a lot of visitors coming in the city during the [sale] period,” said Ruby Ochoa of Abreeza Mall.
“We’re very much excited and we hope that the participation of the people will also be improved for the coming years na rin so the Gaisano malls will really be much participating for the rest of the activities to happen,” said Feliz Aberca of Gaisano Mall of Davao.
DOT 11 Director Art Boncato Jr said the assessments of the malls could make the event “the longest an biggest sale in the Philippines.”
“This is something that we can do together again next year,” Boncato added.
The Big Davao Fun Sale culminated with the announcement of the winners of their raffle contests from shoppers during the month-long event.
Winning the grand prize of P100,000 was Eugene Louie Taning from SIR New Matina, while second prize winner Ivy Sugilon of Tugbok District was awarded a weekend trip for two with hotel accomodation for three night and P20,000 pocket money.
The raffle also picked ten winners for a round-trip to Singapore courtesy of Silk Air.
The sale also picked winners for five IPhone 5 units, 15 cellphones and 10 gift certificates from the malls worth P4,000 each.
The Big Davao Fun Sale was endorsed by the Philippine Retailers Association or PRA and is supported by the Restaurant Association of Davao (RAD) and the Davao Tourism Association (DATA) and was partnered with Cebu Pacific Air, Silk Air, Singapore Airlines, Agoda Hotel, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Mabuhay Taxi and TV5.
After this event, the DOT-XI launched a national program dubbed as Tourism Star Philippines, a program primarily for recognition of tourism frontliners from the north to south of the country.
The program was recently launched in Luzon and Visayas and other parts of Mindanao. Davao region is yet to search for individuals and local chief executives nominees.
“This is basically looking for people who have shown exemplary forms of service. Those who have gone out of the way to serve our guests. In the same process we are also looking for leaders of the land especially local government leaders who have sought an extra effort to develop tourism in their local areas,” Boncato added.
Forms, criteria and other details of the search can be found at the official website www.tourismstar.ph. (davaotoday.com)
