EXPECT a grander version of the Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) this year, which will start from April 3 to May 15, as the country’s biggest city and all sectors of its tourism industry will be in full force to ensure a colorful and fun-filled six-week festivity.
“Huge VDFS discounts and promos are available end to end, from the airport and back and everywhere in between, with unique festivities in each geographic cluster and simultaneous electronic dance festival in the many various key points of the city,” said Davao Regional Director Robert Alabado III of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in a recent media briefing.
Alabado said the collaboration among the DOT, city government, industry players, civic association and the communities enabled Davao to hold the ambitious staging of the VDFS.
“Even the malls and shopping centers, all 12 of them, will have their own special events,” Alabado pointed out.
Some of the malls in the city are Abreeza Mall, Robinsons Mall, SM City Davao, SM City North Davao, Gaisano Mall, NCCC Mall, Victoria Plaza Mall, Chimes and Robinsons Cybergate Davao.
Lisette Marques, Davao City Tourism Operations officer in charge, said this year’s edition of the citywide megasale would be bigger in scope because more establishments would be participating, aimed to showcase not only the large retailers but the small players, as well.
“Nonetheless, it brought in around 190,000 tourists and generated P3 billion in tourism receipts. Now on the heels of its success, we are expanding its coverage to a comprehensive scale through this year’s VDFS,” Marques explained.
“This time, the focus of VDFS is on the word ‘visit’ to make everyone experience Davao from islands to highlands even all in just one day and still have time for night shopping,” said VDFS Executive Committee President Tjader Regis, apparently referring to how near and fast the natural attractions can be reached despite the city’s vast dimensions.
Geographically, Davao’s city is literally at the center of it all—from islands to highlands—making all tourism attractions easily accessible.
“Still, the VDFS is one massive undertaking, but it’s where you can find competing industry players at one table and pulling their acts together,” Regis remarked.
Alabado said Davao will also highlight its popular tourist spots such as the Mount Apo, Samal Island and the bonsai forest of Mount Hamiguitan, now a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Heritage Site.
The VDFS offers, among others, two discounted packaged tours—the Fun Tours and the three days/two nights (3D/2N) Fun Packages.
The 3D/2N packages are priced at P2,613 for Fun-affordable; P3,728 for FunTastic; and P4,190 for Fun-Fabulous—all including two nights hotel accommodations on twin or triple sharing, roundtrip airport transfers, daily breakfasts for two, half-day city tour, applicable entrance fees, and the services of a licensed guide.
The Fun Tours cover sightseeing trips priced at P1,500 for the countryside, P600 for around the city, and P1,500 for the islands, all inclusive of lunch.
The tours can be booked and paid online via BPI, which also offers a “Buy Now, Pay Later” plan for 90-day deferred payment.
Other details can be obtained from the DOT Davao Regional Office.
With a total of 6,000-room capacity equivalent to 2,190,000 on a full-year basis, Davao continues to attract investments in tourism and property development, with major real-estate and construction conglomerates involved in various projects in this cosmopolitan city.
Alabado said that all these programs are aimed to promote Davao City as a regional tourism hub and the country’s premier international gateway in the South, as well as the Asia’s fruit market.
Image credits: Rolo Ruelo