The city government of Davao is expecting an increase of visitors for the month of August when people from nearby and outside the region flock to this city for the Kadayawan Festival.
City Tourism Officer Lisette Marquez said they expect 14 percent increase in visitor arrival this month with 180,000 guests compared to last year’s record of 150,000 visitors.
Aside from the festival, Marquez said the city is also host to several national conventions this month. In fact, the city is already seeing a rise in the number of people coming in.
“Several of our hotels are experiencing high occupancy rate during this period,” Marquez said after guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex.
Benjie Banzon, general manager of The Royal Mandaya Hotel said the hotel industry is doing good with either high occupancy rate or fully booked status. He said August is among the months of the year when visitors come in time for the Kadayawan festival.
He also attributed this to the efforts extended by the Department of Tourism in promoting the city’s destinations and its corresponding “a must visit” events.
Banzon said their guests are both foreign and local, as they expect a 25 percent increase in occupancy this month especially during the Kadayawan week.
Meanwhile, Marquez said they are all set for the celebration. One of the confirmed guests is Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Francis Tolentino.
There will be several other personalities coming during the highlight of the festivities on August 15, 16 and 17, she said.
Kadayawan will cap with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s free concert at the Rizal Park featuring the rock band Aegis.
Marquez said each year, the Kadayawan Festival offers new and exciting features such as this year’s holding of Indigenous Peoples(IPs) Game competition where participating IPs will compete in their respective costumes.
Among the accredited events are the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Photo Exhibit–photo exhibit, Mindanao Trade Expo, International Day of the Worlds’s Indigenous People’s Cultural Night, The 2014 Kadayawan Hot August Races, Great Kadayawan Trade Fair and Bazaar, Kadayawan Festival–Skylife Dance Showdown, OPM Hitmen in Davao–A Kadayawan Special, Globe Astigfest, Coca-Cola Share A Coke Concert, National MSME Summit.
Marquez also said that the regular features are the Agro-Trade Fair, the Indak-indak sa Dalan (Street Dancing), Floral Float Parade and Hiyas ng Kadayawan.
Davao City police director Vicente Danao Jr. said they have augmented police personnel to secure public places where the people converge to ensure safety and security of the visitors and the Dabawenyos.
He said they are ready for the Kadayawan festivities even as he said that they have instituted measures to carry out for the safety of everybody.