Tourism, Culture & Arts Program

Of Davao City

By Patmei B. Ruivivar & Bong Aportadera

• The Vision for Davao
City is to be the
Premiere socio-
economic and
tourism center in
Mindanao, the East
ASEAN Growth
area, and the Asia-
Pacific Region
• Tourism to be one of the primary
engines of growth in developing
Davao city in the entire Asia-
Pacific Region
• We are getting there!
One program to capture the
BEST of Davao!
Davao’s UNIQUE Selling
Proposition!
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Typhoon-Free Zone!
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Best Water in the

World
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Multi-Cultural and
Cosmopolitan Peoples
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Strong & Independent

Local Government
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Safest Destination
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Most Prepared City to

Respond to an
Emergency
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Excellent Public
Utilities &
Infrastructure
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Healthy Lifestyle
• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– More Value for Money

• Davao’s Perfect 10!

– Inclusive, Not
Exclusive
• Tourism Policy Framework

– People travel to other places because they

want to explore new things and try new ways
of thinking, doing, seeing, and feeling.
• “Davao City will not
change and pretend to be
something that it is not to
please its visitors. What
you see is what you get
and we believe that what
we are and what we have
are more than enough”
– Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte
declared during the 25th ASEAN
Tourism Forum
Experience Davao in 3
ways…
• Eco-Sports and
Adventure Destination
• Multicultural and
cosmopolitan
destination
• Study tour destination
Why
• Bagobo word
“duhwow”
– Place “beyond
high grounds”
has historical roots
What we aim for…

• ESTABLISH Davao City as the “Culture

Capital of the Philipines”
• DEVELOP Davao City as the country’s ideal
eco-sports and adventure destination
• INSTITUTIONALIZE a “best practices”
academy in Davao City to cater to study tour
groups from other parts of the Philippines and
the world!
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Discover, Protect, and Develop eco-

sports/adventure and heritage sites
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– DaWOW Visitors Centers in strategic

locations
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Inventory of Davao’s Best practices

 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Assist barangays in the city in organizing their

BTCAC
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Propagating and Instilling the Dabawenyo

Spirit!
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Develop World-class Davao-made products,

and partner with MY DAVAO in product
development and marketing
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Discover and Support excellent Davao

Talents
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Mobilize multi-sectoral support and action for

DaWOW! (Volun-Tourism)
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Create a recognition and incentive program in

support of DaWOW!
 How do we do it?
• For Davao City

– Launch DaWOW!!!
 How do we do it?
• For the Rest of the Philippines

– Develop study tour packages

 How do we do it?
• For the Rest of the Philippines

– Develop one-of-a-kind nature and culture

adventure trips!
 How do we do it?
• For the Rest of the Philippines

– Launch “Sa Davao lang….” media campaign

 How do we do it?
• For the Rest of the World

– Organize overseas Dabawenyos in support of

DaWOW!
 How do we do it?
• For the Rest of the World

– Launch Internet-based media campaign!

 How do we do it?
• For the Rest of the World

– Secure IHCP for foreign travelers to Davao

 How do we do it?
• For the Rest of the World

– Forge linkages with target countries through

non-traditional and alternative means!
From Davao to
How it will go…

• City Tourism Operations Office

How it will go…

• Community Relations Program

How it will go…

• Museo Dabawenyo
How it will go…

• Association of Barangay Captains

 timeframe

• DaWOW was
launched August
18, 2008
 timeframe
• Phase 1 (August to December 2008)
– Massive Public Information Campaign
– Identifying Pilot Areas for Development
– Capability Building of Stakeholders & Implementers
– Defining Policies, Guidelines & Regulations
– Organizing Program Volunteers
– Establishing Linkages
 timeframe
• Phase 2 (January to December 2009)
– Launch DaWOW Accreditation & Recognition
Program
– DaWOW Merchandising
– DaWOW Multi-media Program
– Opening of NEW Tourism, Eco-sports and Heritage
sites
– DaWOW Best Practices Academy
 timeframe
• Phase 3 (January to June 2010)
– Organize fully functional BTCACs in 182 Barangays
– Institutionalize the program
 sourcing

• Annual Development Fund (ADF)

• City Mayor’s Discretionary Fund
• General Fund (regular budgets of the
implementing offices)
• DaWOW Development Fund (from
private sector sponsors)