Americans are Davao City’s top tourists

DAVAO CITY – American tourists topped the list of foreigners that visited Davao City from January to May, 2018 despite the July 18, 2017 travel advisory issued by the US Embassy against travelling to areas in Mindanao, data from the City Tourism Office showed.

Figures released by the CTO on Tuesday showed that a total of 8, 851 Americans visited the city despite being warned by the US State Department to avoid Sulu archipelago and Marawi City and to reconsider travel to other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, and civil unrest.

Japanese tourists (4,941) came in second, followed by the Chinese (3,957), Koreans (3,143), and 2,875 (Australians).

The embassy requires American citizens to obtain special authorization before traveling to Mindanao, which limits the “ability of the US government to provide emergency services to US citizens in Mindanao.”

The advisory said terrorist and armed groups continue to conduct kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting US citizens, foreigners, civilians, local government institutions, and security forces.

City Tourism Office (CTO) head Generose Tecson said the advisory was intended to warn Americans of possible danger and does not in any way prevent them from coming to Mindanao.

“Perhaps, it’s because there are many Americans also here in Davao who have told them that it’s safe here and it’s a beautiful place to be in,” she said, adding that there are also many Americans who are married to Dabawenyos.