Mati, Davao Oriental beaches now open

MATI CITY: Dahican Beach, along with all other tourist attractions in the city is now open to the public.

As the city ushers in the new normal pending the lifting of the modified general community quarantine on June 16, the Department of Tourism(DoT) thru the City Tourism Office has released 30 certificates in order for resorts and hotels to resume operations.

Mati Tourism Officer Dashiel Indelible Jr., however, said that not all 30 would open simultaneously as some establishments are still to comply with the implementation of the minimum health and safety requirements mandated by the DoT.

Due to the coronavirus threat, the city has locked down its borders to tourists and visitors for the past months.

The city’s tourism industry is the most affected sector leading to an estimated loss of P114M for the months of March, April and May.

Before the pandemic, the City of Mati has an average tourist arrivals of 25,438 per month. With an estimated expenditures per tourist/day of P1,500, this could result to P38 million per month income for the city’s economy.

This excludes the negative effect of the cancellation of the Pujada Bay Festival and Citihood Day activities this month.

Indelible said they are hoping that the local tourism industry will recover from the slump especially now that the most popular attraction of the city, Dahican Beach, is open to the public once again.