(Photo courtesy of PIA)
DAVAO CITY — Tourism officials in the Davao Region are looking to expand the business and leisure travel market to sustain tourism growth and cushion the potential effects of the El Niño phenomenon on the industry.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan said business and leisure activities could help maintain visitor arrivals, particularly during off-peak tourism months.
“Marami opportunities sa business leisure na mga activities na hopefully will still continue and ma-cater natin sila,” Rabat-Tan said.
The business and leisure, or “bleisure,” market combines work-related trips with recreational activities. It forms part of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, which Davao has been actively developing.
Rabat-Tan said the region has sufficient tourism facilities and attractions to accommodate corporate travelers, particularly those participating in incentive trips organized by companies for employees and sales teams.
She added that the DOT intends to strengthen partnerships among tour operators within and outside the region to promote incentive travel packages.
The tourism official noted that while Davao already hosts numerous conventions and exhibitions, attracting more corporate incentive groups could further expand the region’s MICE market.
Corporate meetings, conferences, and incentive travel could also help offset slower tourism activity during lean seasons and periods affected by extreme weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Davao City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge Willenito Tormis highlighted the city’s potential as a business and leisure destination during the Third Hospitality and Tourism Experience Conference.
Tormis said the city is encouraging business travelers to extend their visits and explore local attractions after attending meetings, conventions, and other corporate events.
Among the destinations being promoted are Davao City’s countryside attractions, cultural sites, food establishments, and agricultural tourism destinations.
He also noted that MICE-related visitors accounted for a significant portion of the approximately 1.5 million tourist arrivals recorded in Davao City as of August 2026.
Tourism officials believe that expanding the business and leisure market could help generate additional tourism revenue, encourage longer visitor stays, and strengthen Davao’s position as a major MICE destination in the Philippines.
