Palarong Pambansa boosts tourism

The City eyes to being a step closer to its goal of being a premier sports tourism destination after having hosted various national and international events this year.

“Mayor Inday Sara Duterte believes that the city’s hosting of the three major sporting events — the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) in February, the Ironman in March, and now the Palarong Pambansa, will move the city closer to its vision of becoming a premier sports tourism destination,” a press release from the City Information Office (CIO) said.

With the opening of the Palarong Pambansa 2019 Sunday, the city eyes a boost in the tourism sector especially that organizers expect the number of people could reach up to 20,000, including the 15,000 athletes and the technical officials, converging in the city for the national games.

“The 2019 Palarong Pambansa, which officially opened Sunday, is not only a sporting event but an opportunity to promote the city as a tourism destination,” said City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Chief Gene Rose Tecson.

“It’s part of our push as a MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) destination. We have free city tours available from April 29 to May 3 on a first come first served basis,” Tecson said.

The city will also offer free tours for Palarong Pambansa delegates available only for officials of the different participating teams in the Palaro.

The city has designated a pick-up point for those who want to join the tour.

There will be two groups for the tour. Tour A will take the participants to a walking tour of the San Pedro Square, the Tribal Village, and the People’s Park while Tour B will take them to President Rodrigo Duterte’s House, Shrine Hills and the People’s Park.

Tecson said the Palarong Pambansa, which runs until May 5, will take the delegates to the different facets of the city starting from their different billeting quarters.

“Even the P8-billion Davao City-University of the Philippines Sports Complex in Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, where the opening of the Palaro was held, has become an attraction in itself because of its picturesque backdrop,” CIO said.