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| Davao City |
Palafox Architecture president and founder, Felino "Jun" Palafox, Jr. turned over the Tourism Master Plan to the Honorable City Mayor Sebastian Duterte. The Department of Tourism XI Director Tanya Tan and the Davao City Tourism Operations Office OIC Julieta Catacutan were alongside the city mayor during the ceremonial affair held recently at the Pinnacle Hotel.
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| Ceremonial turnover of the Davao City Tourism Master Plan. Department of Tourism XI Director Tanya Tan , Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Palafox Architecture President & founder, Felino "Jun" Palafox, Jr. and Davao City Tourism Operations Office OIC Julieta Catacutan. |
According to the renowned urban planner, the Tourism Master Plan is a 25-year project that will bridge the highlands, midlands, lowlands and coastline. The tourism oriented plan is very comprehensive in terms of area and discipline, like urban planning architecture, engineering.
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| Palafox Architecture president and founder, Felino "Jun" Palafox, Jr. |
"We have put together tourism circuits for places one can visit for one, two or three days, or one week. We have the eco-tourism adventure in Catigan, Toril, and the foothills of Mt. Apo; activating the Chinatown, known to be the largest inland community outside of China; and promenades along the natural waterfront of Davao," bared the architect, adding that just like Dubai, where he was the the architect and urban planner in 1977, they would to make Davao join the first world in 15 to 25 years, "There is so much development potential for the Davao Region and Mindanao."
In her opening remarks, GeneRose Tecson, Office of the Vice President Satellite office head and former City Tourism Operations Officer, said, "Davao City and its environs has enormous tourism potential but yet untapped. The completion of the 25 year Davao City Tourism Master Plan is an achievement as to quote the Global Tourism Forum, 'It is the roadmap to destination success as it will answer three important questions: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? We now have a clearer picture of the direction we want to take for Davao City tourism and a reference for future investors."
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| "We now have a clearer picture of the direction we want to take for Davao City tourism and a reference for future investors." -- GeneRose Tecson, Office of the Vice President Satellite office head and former City Tourism Operations Officer |
The city mayor thanked Palafox Associates, the stakeholders of the local tourism industry for the joint effort in crafting the master plan. Duterte also committed to support the "road map" to the future of the industry in spite of the challenges that Davao City is facing today.
Duterte thanked the Palafox team and expressed his support on the implementation of the tourism master plan,"We need to do this because if not now, when? We have seen an extraordinary boom in our area and along with it came extraordinary challenges because of the speed of the progression in Davao City. We have to keep up with it as a lot of people and investments are coming in."
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| "If not now, When?" -- Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte |
For the city's tourism branding, the artwork of the proposed tourism logo and slogan, "Definitely Davao," was also unveiled by Duterte and Palafox during the affair.
"After months of research and stakeholder consultations, Palafox Associates presents the Davao City’s Tourism Brand. Davao City offers its DNA - diverse nature and adventure based attractions which can be expressed in two words - Definitely Davao!," said Maricel Gatchalian-Badilla, Palafox's tourism marketing and branding consultant, expressing that slogan is the tourist’s response to having a wonderful experience in Mindanao while complementing Davao City’s place brand "Life is Here" and works on the gains of its MICE campaign "Let’s Meet in Davao."
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| Unveiling the proposed tourism logo and slogan "Definitely Davao" |
In the proposed logo, each letter of the word Davao spotlights the city's icons- the Philippine Eagle, Mt. Apo, exotic fruits, diverse culture with the 11 tribes and cuisine highlighting the rich marine life, respectively.
Present during the affair were City councilors Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz and Al Ryan Alejandre, acting City Administrator Atty. Francis Mark Layog, former City Councilor Susabel Reta, and representatives from the various private stakeholders.
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| Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Mayor Sebastian Duterte, City Administrator Atty. Francis Mark Layog, Office of the Vice President Satellite office head and former City Tourism Operations Officer GeneRose Tecson and Davao City Tourism Operations Office OIC Julieta Catacutan. |
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| Marilou Ampuan & Anna Magnaye |
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| DOT-XI Director Tanya Tan, former City Councilor Susabel Reta, GeneRose Tecson |
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