VICE President Sara Duterte asked the tourism stakeholders to increase their investments in sector-specific tourism amenities in order to diversify the country’s opportunities and potentially increase the revenue streams in the industry.

Duterte made the statement before tourism trailblazers at the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) Conference 2023 Closing Ceremony at The Tent, Azuela Cove in Davao City.

“I enjoin our tourism stakeholders to work with other industry leaders to invest in medical tourism, heritage tourism, retirement havens, entertainment spots, open-space recreation, and more community-based travel destinations,” Duterte said.

“Let us work together to revitalize our tourism sector with diverse packages, incentives, and strategic investments with a focus on service quality, public health, transportation, and most of all, enriching the immersive experience of our visitors,” she added.

Duterte, who served as a mayor of Davao City, shared how the city also hosted the MICECON event 10 years ago, and how it reinforced Davao City’s position as a “major player and attractive destination in the conventions and exhibits industry.”

She also cited how Davao City is home to 50 MICE facilities, with accommodations able to meet the growing demand for guest lodgings, Halal food offerings to diverse Asian and continental cuisine, among others.

“For Davao City, being the host of this year’s MICECON 2023 is an opportunity to showcase one of the tourism gateways in Mindanao,” Duterte said.

“Today, as a proud Dabawenya and Mindanawon, I can say Davao City and the whole of Mindanao continue to hold so much promise,” she added.

The Vice President also said that she is honored and proud that Davao City is considered as one of the safest cities in the world, offering visitors a complete tourism experience through the convergence of culture, nature, and adventure.

Duterte also lauded the Department of Tourism for boosting domestic tourism by opening “Tourism Circuits” and “Green Corridors” such as Davao, Clark, Bohol, and Puerto Princesa.

“I also want to commend our tourism industry players for their quick thinking, and for developing carefully curated, immersive, and inclusive travel packages – unique experiences that cater to foodies, faith, fitness, sports, and ecotourism enthusiasts,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, she cited the Marcos administration’s 8-point socio-economic agenda that will focus on improving food security, transportation, health care, education, and social services while reducing energy costs, practicing sound fiscal management, and enhancing bureaucratic efficiency.

She said a restabilized tourism industry will enable robust economic growth, increase the number of middle-income Filipinos, reduce poverty incidence to 9 percent, and elevate the Philippines as an upper-middle-class economy.