DAVAO CITY -- The number of tourist arrivals in Davao City could hit about 170,000 to celebrate Christmas or 10,000 more compared with last year.
Even without firecrackers or display of pyrotechnics, the city has become a destination for domestic tourism because of its month-long Pasko Fiesta.
Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) chief Generose Tecson said the city is targeting around 170,000 tourists who will be coming to the city to celebrate Christmas.
"We know that our fellow Dabawenyos are the ones who invited their friends and relatives to experience the celebration of Christmas here in the city, " she said.
She said tourists can experience the activities of the Pasko Fiesta sa Davao such as the "Kaan sa Davao" or the food festival along Palma Gil Street and kan anan sa Tribo at the Magsaysay Park's Kadayawan Village where people can experience the different indigenous food of the city's tribes.
"We want them to experience how we celebrate as people. Despite our differences in our culture and traditions we still unite and that's our difference from other places," she said.
She said the visitors can also enjoy the lantern parade and the choral competition at City Hall.
Last year, Tecson said the number of city visitors reached 160,000 based on the hotel occupancy. That was even the year when a bomb exploded at the Roxas night market.
"We are really targeting last year's arrivals. We've seen the trend that after the declaration of martial law our tourist arrivals decreased," she said.
"However, it was surprising that in July our tourist arrivals increased and during Kadayawan that was really terrific because there are many people who came to Davao," Tecson added. (PNA)
