TOURISM Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. officially launched in the premier southern seaport of Davao City the department’s slogan in all aircraft of the Southeast Asia Airlines (Seair)
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| Photo credit to Renz Bulseco |
and the posting of the pictures of frequented destinations of Davao City in the specially fitted debit card-enabled taxi fleet here.
He also publicly bestowed the honor on Davao City as the next tourism gateway of the Philippines.
Jimenez said the two special events were especially timed to mark the holding of the Kadayawan fruit harvest festival, the grandest festivities in Mindanao.
He said though that bestowing the distinction to Davao City as another tourism gateway of the country would have “to take a lot of painstaking work” for the private sector and the local residents but assured of a dedicated support of the Department of Tourism and other national government agencies that have a stake in building up the tourism industry.
He said the entry of more airlines to serve Davao City, or to make it a hub to other domestic and international destinations would allow this city of 1.4 million residents to catch up and contribute to the projected increase of tourist arrivals to 4.6 million this year.
Jimenez was amazed with the debit card-enabled taxi units that accept card payments, saying “you are only the second one in the world to have that taxi payment mode.”
The Mabuhay fleet of 25 black-colored taxi units were the only ones with the point-of-sale card swiping gadgets that read and debit money from all Bancnet and Megalink cards.
At both its side doors are pasted large stickers of picturesque sceneries and images of the Philippine eagle, Waling-Waling orchids and other destinations with the DOT branding of “It’s fun in the Philippines.”
“The quality service and innovations you have deserve the kind of international attention, that you can greatly contribute to attracting visitors to your place and the rest of the country,” he said.
What was important, though, he said, “is not to measure tourism in terms of arrivals and visits. It is in our ability to translate all these interests to visit our places to creating jobs and livelihood.”
He said the government has projected to earn as much P1.9 trillion by 2016, jacking up tourism contribution to the Gross Domestic Product at 12 percent, after investing in airport development and decongesting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in favor of more robust provincial airport capabilities.
The projection would double the current contribution of tourism receipts at six percent, he told a series of press briefings here over the weekend.
He said the Philippines invested both in the infrastructure and marketing promotion of the Philippines as a major destination, including working out for more routes from travel-rich countries.
Link from BUSINESS MIRROR
Taxi Photo credit to MABUHAY TAXI/BLUE TAXI
Davao City as tourism gateway in Southern Philippines
Reviewed by Amaya Chika
on
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Rating:
Reviewed by Amaya Chika
on
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Rating:
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