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| Bilawa Mainit Hot Waterfalls, a much visited tourist spot in Davao de Oro was once a rebel infested area |
DAVAO CITY- From an insurgency-wracked province which used to host 14 New Peoples Army guerrilla fronts, Davao de Oro has managed to transform itself as one of the country’s premiere tourism destinations.
“In 2019 we are placed 11th in the entire country in terms of statistics, the entire 2020 we placed 5th in terms of stays, arrivals,” says Christine Dompor, Provincial Investment and Tourism Officer of Davao de Oro province.
Dompor attributes the development to the National Task Force Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict which had reduced the 14 guerrilla fronts to just one operating in the province and that lone front is in danger of being disbanded.
“I would really like to highlight the efforts of ELCAC, it has opened the whole of Davao de Oro, if you have heard of Manurigao, it is also being opened, there are developments there and roads leading to Manurigao is really happening. Before it’s a one-day walk but now you can reach Manurigao by a vehicle. So our services can reach there,” Dompor said of Barangay Manurigao in New Bataan a former GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Depressed Area) where deadly clashes between army and rebels once regularly occurred.
“Davao de Oro is getting ready each year even with pandemic because nag pave ang peace and order efforts sa development of tourism and investments,” Dompor said.
She said the improving peace and order situation has led to the flourishing of the tourism sector in the province.
According to the provincial profiling data from 2019-2020 there was a 200% increase in tourism related establishments and even in 2021 there was a 100% increase. These include resorts, accommodation establishments, food establishments, community based retail establishments, financial institutions, transport, pasalubong centers, MICE (meetings incentives conventions exhibitions), travel agencies.
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Celebrity chef Pablo "Boy" Logro is from Laak town. |
Top four tourism businesses in Davao de Oro include food establishments which mark a 200% increase, the followed by resorts where even during pandemic investments in resorts are still intensifying, then followed by retail establishments and community based tourism sites.
Dompor cited community based tourism sites in Lake Leonard and in Bilawa hot sulfuric waterfalls a former red area which is earning income for the people in the community.
She said the community in Buiawa earned P3-million income in 2020 from the visitors going to the therapeutic waterfalls
“The target of Governor Tyrone Uy is really to place Davao de Oro in the tourism map and make it a premiere destination of wellness, agriculture and ecotourism in the country,” Dompor said,
The boom in tourism has spurred the province to develop circuit tourism destinations.
Dompor cited Wellness Loop, Highland to Valley circuit and the Coastal Circuit.
The wellness loop, which a combination of natural wellness experience where tourists will be experiencing sulfuric waterfalls, featured destinations are Lake Leonard and series of waterfalls hopping in Maragusan.
The highland to valley circuit is geared biking tourism in which service providers along the bike routes which are popular scenic views. The cycling and adventure route Maragusan, New Bataan down to Montevista, Monkayo New Bataan
Coastal circuit which can be found in coastal municipalities of Maco, Mabini, Pantukan, where beach resorts are located
The province is also developing eatventures (eat adventures) showcasing food specialties in the circuit routes.
“We are putting adventures and eatventures to become part of the quality of experience and the worth of your money when you visit Davao de Oro,” Dompor said. (PIA/RG Alama)
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