Surfing is becoming popular in Davao and an emerging sports that many enthusiasts explore the waters here.  International sports stores, Roxy and Quicksilver, started organizing events here to activate surfing. With Davao as very strong in adventure tourism, the sports tourism is also growing.  


Int'l sports brand manager promotes surfing in Davao (Sports)‏

DAVAO CITY (PNA) -- An international sports store brand manager here is promoting surfing as growing sports in the Davao Region.

Dino Gilladoga, brand manager for Roxy, Quicksilver and Delsey, said there are many surfing enthusiasts here and it is high time this was developed.

The internationally known stores are under the PRIMER Group of Companies

.

Primer is a consortium mainly engaged in the retail and distribution of the world's top consumer brands and products where its retail authority has grown to over 80 premium brands, 100 free-standing concept stores and over 600 consignment doors in the Asian region.

Gilladoga said with Davao as very strong in adventure tourism, they also wanted to be part of the growing sports tourism industry here.

“They want to activate surfing which is our main goal," he said.

He said there is growth for expansion as well because the Davao market is big.

There are already groups which had been doings sports event like this he said but not that wide and they wanted Davao on top of their list.

He said they are coordinating with the Philippine Surfing Federation and part of their long term planning is to make the sports big in areas like Davao, Luzon, Siargao, La Union and Samar and in other areas that have potentials for surfing.

"We are looking at the waters of Davao Oriental for this project and in other potential areas here," he said. (PNA) hbc/PrixDignaDBanzon/ldp/utb

Davao City beefs up monitoring of tourism related establishments

An all out monitoring and inspections of tourism related establishments is being conducted by a team composed of different departments of the Davao City government to ensure that safety and sanitation is being thoroughly implemented.

City tourism department head Rizal Giovanni Aportadera said they conduct unannounced inspections to check whether these establishments adopt what was stipulated in their business registration.

"We pay particular attention on restrooms and the cleanliness of the area and non compliance means their renewal for tourism accreditation be denied," he said.

He said these establishments need to renew their tourism accreditation and they will not hesitate to cancel or deny renewal if they found them violating the rules.

So far he said for those found with deficiencies readily comply with the recommendations given them by the team.

And with the coming Kadayawan Festival he said they warned the establishments that actions against violators will be toughed once tourists and other visitors would complain about the condition of their establishments including poor service.

He said they had been projecting the city as tourist destination and this should be maintained by everybody more especially with the tourism related establishments.

Earlier he said that since last year to this date Davao City ranks third tourist destinations in the country following Cebu and Boracay. Arrivals remain positive and hotels and restaurants continue to be fully booked.

Mindanao tourism sites up for promotion

The government has line up tourism sites up for promotion by a subregional economic group.

In the list is Mt. Apo and 10 other areas in Mindanao and Palawan.

The Mindanao Economic Development Council report showed the other Mindanao sites are Malawi Island and Dapitan in the Zamboanga peninsula, Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao, Davao Gulf and Samal Island in the Davao Region, Lake Sebu in Central Mindanao, Aguasan Marsh in the Caraga Region and Lake Lanao in the autonomous Muslim region. Identified sites in Palawan are Kayangan and Barracuda lakes in Coron Island.

Adventure in the south

Several must see places in Davao are ups for you to grab for an adventure. One is the Water Tubing in Sibulan River in Davao del Sur then a trip to the pygmy forest in San Isidro, Davao Oriental. There is also the Coral Garden Diving in the Island Garden City of Samal and the Caving in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. The Maragusan Falls in Compostela Valley Province is equally exciting as well as the Davao Wildwater Adventures and Davao's Orchid Garden.

And the most challenging is the Mt. Apo highest peak at 10,311 feet. You can experience the best adventures as you backpack your way across the islands and highlands of Davao and get to the peak of nature.

From trekking, caving, mountain bike safari, rapelling down waterfalls, river tubing to diving, mountain climbing and island hopping, this is the ultimate eco-tourism expedition in one fun-filled package.

Daily accessible by land, sea, and air, Davao City, the country's largest city is just an hour and a half flight away from Manila by plane.

Adventure Davao, a fun-filled package ready for the takers.