DAVAO CITY – In time for PAGASA’s declaration of summer, the tourism sector in Davao Region is kicking-off the Visit Davao Summer Festival (VDSF) which runs for 76 days from April 15 to June 30 with 35 events lined up regionwide.
VDSF Executive Committee chair Benjamin Lizada said the holding of events is aimed to put Davao Region on top of the minds of domestic and foreign tourists. This is the widest and the longest summer festival, he said during the launching on Tuesday.
The festival will carry three themes: Sports and Adventure Events, Culture and Arts Events and Party, Fun and Leisure Events plus the fun sale in major malls in the city.
There will be promotional rates for hotels and airlines. Already in its fifth year, VDSF is a collaboration between the private sector and the government.
"We have all the provinces and cities participating because we believe that what is best for the region is good for individual local government units and for all of us," he said.
He said the VDFS is all set. He said this is not about competition but complementation in attracting more tourists. While there is an increase in tourists arrivals during summer, Davao City tourism chief Generose Tecson said the VDSF help boost arrivals with the activities carried out in other places of the region.
"This time around almost the entire region is participating and we expect more visitors arriving," she said.
"Visitors go to other places in the different cities and provinces, they spend time in the city and we really benefit from this summer activity," she added.
Among the activities that will take place this summer include the Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge and Mt. Apo Sky and Vertical Race in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; Amihan National Skimboarding Competition and Bonamine Ultimate Beach Frisbee Tournament in Mati City; Air Asia Durianman Triathlon, Flanax Samal Marathon in the Island Garden City of Samal; the Tempra Battle of the Strongest at Matina Town Square, Davao City and VDSF 1st Comval Aquathlon at Kopiat Island, Mabini, Compostela Valley Province.
Other activities are the Climb Caravan promoting the four beautiful peaks of Mt. Apo, Mt. Hamiguitan, Mt. Amakan, and Mt. Candalaga. The Mars Attack Compostela Valley National Climb will take place at Mt. Candalaga.
The VDSF diving event will be held in Sigaboy Island, Samal Island and San Isidro, Davao Oriental diving site.
For Arts and Culture it will be the Dabawenya Alla Prima, live painting by Davao artists with Mutya ng Dabaw and Hiyas sa Kadayawan as models wearing their crowns and attires in a three-hour session.
The Samal Sand Sculpting Competition with the theme "Disney" showcasing talents of Samalenos thru sand sculpting while the Bigiw Regatta sa Isla is a competition for the fastest and most beautifully designed sail, showcasing Samal Island's traditional fishing boat.
In Davao City there will be Art Exhibition, Art Fora and Art Sessions as well as Hataw Dabaw which is the widest and the grandest dance competition in Mindanao, The Tambayayong Dabawenyo will also take place in the city where it will showcase traditional and contemporary arts and culture found in Davao and Mindanao. The Mindanao Pet Congres will be held in Abreeza Ayala Mall and SM Lanang.
The Kadagayaan Festival of Davao del Norte will feature the Hudyaka 2018 showcasing culture and arts of various tribes and ethnicity of the province; Tourism Fair where an interactive exhibits-cum-promotional packages; the Agri-Aqua Trade Expo featuring industry-based banner products and the Musa Man Tribavnor which is a standard triathlon race of 1.5m swim, 40 km bike and 10 km run.
Tourists will enjoy promo tour packages such as Davao City Discovery, Davao City Du30 Tour, Philippine Eagle Wildlife Tour, Davao Highland Adventures, Samal Island Hopping, DavNor Adventure, Davao Island Adventure, ComVal Barkada Tour, Kopiat Island Tour, Davao del Sur Island and Mangrove Tour, Davao Heritage Adventure Tour. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)
