Davao City is ambitiously targeting to welcome 2.5 million tourists in 2025, according to the City Tourism Operations Office (CTTO). Jennifer Romero, head of the CTTO, is confident that the city will meet this target. Last year, the city saw over 1.8 million visitors, a significant increase from the 1.2 million recorded in 2023. Romero attributes this optimism to the stabilization of events within the city, which allows for better planning and advance booking opportunities for tourists. Key events such as Araw ng Dabaw, Duaw Dabaw, the Kadayawan Festival, and Pasko Fiesta are major draws for visitors. The figures for tourist arrivals are calculated based on stays in accredited accommodations. Notably, the Kadayawan Festival in August attracted the highest number of visitors at 190,068, while December saw 178,555 visitors. To further boost tourism, Romero mentioned that the CTTO is pushing for incentives related to MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) to attract more events. Additionally, the Department of Tourism is working on a Regional Tourism Development Plan to promote sustainable tourism growth in the region.
