Community-based tourism pushed

FOLLOWING Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte's directive to highlight the culture and tradition of the diverse but united tribes of Davao, the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) is planning to develop a community-based tourism program for the city.

CTOO chair Gene Rose Tecson said her office will teach and convince lumad communities to develop their own tourist destinations.

"Looking back at our Kadayawan, and its theme: 11 tribes in one city, the city tourism office would like to focus on more community based tourism sites," Tecson said.

She said this is another kind of tourism program where tourists can experience the culture of the tribes and communities of Davao.

"Tourism isn't all about putting up hotels and resorts, its also about our culture," Tecson said.

She said her office can help teach the communities on how to develop their own tourists sites.

In earlier interviews, Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 director Roberto Alabado III said tourists, especially foreigners do not necessarily look for "just comfort but education on the city's identity, the natives and how they came to be."

"We want to do it in such a way na sila yung gagawa kung ano yung mga rules nila kung papaano tayo mga dayuhan ang pupunta sa mga lugar nila," Tecson said.

She hopes at least two from the 11 tribes could set-up a cultural tourism sites of their own.

"We will try to encourage them through the barangay captains, and the

deputy mayors if they can participate sa community based-tourism," Tecson said.

In community-based tourism, the local community create or find tourist spots in their locale, and build businesses around it.

Previously, the city has campaigned itself as a Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) destination but as Tecson said, with the sudden growth of interested tourists, the city now needs more convention areas. With CCC