Davao Oriental local governments improve their tourist plan
2 min read
THE WALL. An emerging dive site in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, dubbed "The Wall," shows the presence of bountiful coral formations. Davao Oriental’s provincial government has been planning a dive safari to promote their diving sites, a tourism official said Saturday (Sept. 30, 2023). (Photo from Mati CIO)
MindanaoHerald | Davao Oriental local governments improve their tourist plan | DAVAO CITY – The cities and towns of Mati, Governor Generoso (GovGen), and Tarragona in Davao Oriental have joined forces to help the provincial government boost its marketing effort for tourists.
This Saturday, Dashiel Indelible Jr., the tourism officer for Mati, said that the three local government units (LGUs) decided to work together instead of competing over which area has the best tourist spots.
We’re actually going on a dive trip at the beginning of next year, and the towns of Governor Generoso and Tarragona are on the list of places we want to see. As members of Davao Oriental and in line with the province’s tourism plan, Indelible said, “We need to work together to bring more tourists to the whole province, not just Mati City.”
A provincial tourism office worker named Lyrna Palma Padojinog said that the first talks about their planned dive routes had taken place with the three LGUs.
“All we need to do is make sure that the rules for each LGU are the same,” she said.
The LGUs also need to get the community involved as a partner in this effort.
According to Juan Miguel Inojales of JMI Dive Operations, diving companies in Governor Generoso want to make the town the best place to go scuba diving in the state.
Inojales said that they are hoping to add five more dive sites to the list of at least 14 that have already been found in the municipal waters of Governor Generoso.
“We want to help the local companies, especially the resorts here.” Furthermore, he said, “We know that tourism can create more jobs.”
Reopening the El Don Resort in the town will also help the provincial government’s plan to promote tourism a lot.
At the very southeast corner of island Mindanao, facing the Pacific Ocean, is the El Don Resort.
Inojales said that they had found a place to dive just off the lodge that they called “The Wall” and that it was connected to four other dive sites.
El Don Resort CEO Manuel Zamora Jr. said that the resort’s location near many coral reefs is the main reason why they want it to be the best place to dive in Davao Oriental and the whole Davao Region.
“I think we can support each other. Mati City, for example, lets people dive for free. You can go scuba diving while you’re here in Governor Generoso, especially in El Don. “I think that offering will help us work together,” Zamora said.
The planned dive trip is just one of many tourism plans made by the LGUs in the province to collaborate and work together to bring more tourists to the area. (via PNA)
