DAVAO CITY—This city’s tourism industry should see an uptick with more direct flights from Chinese cities, said Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre.
Alejandre, who chairs the City Council’s tourism and beautification committee, said more China-to-Davao flights can be expected after Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte’s visit to Shanghai last month.
A plane from Xiamen arrived in the city last week, marking the start of the Xiamen-Davao route, and Alejandre said the Guangzhou-Davao route should open next year.
These new international flights are significant because they are expected to bring in over one million new tourists from China, the councilor said.
Also, thanks to the vice mayor’s official visit to Shanghai, the Chinese government is urging more businessmen to invest in Davao, Alejandro said.
Paolo Duterte is the eldest son of President Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City’s mayor for more than two decades. His sister Sarah is the current mayor.
Alejandre said the Chinese government asked their Davao counterparts to give them 10 priority projects their businessmen could invest in.
The city government will also look to develop more tourist spots to showcase the city’s rich culture and variety of offerings.
“We also would like to promote the Paquibato District to showcase the cultures of the lumads living there. It is also a good opportunity for our lumads to earn through this,” Alejandre said.