Davao City has everything going for it in competing as a world-class female tourist destination, targeting particularly Japan’s joshi tabi or female travelers market.
Such is the reason the Department of Tourism (DoT) Mindanao Office Order has been created by Secretary Wanda Teo, a former travel agency executive who dedicated a lifetime in promoting international and domestic tourism in Davao City.
In line with this objective, Secretary Teo tasked Assistant Secretary Eden David, head of the DoT Mindanao Office and Tourist Attaché to Tokyo Gwen Batoon to organize joshi tabi tour packages.
David said Davao City strongly banks on its lush greenery, rich biodiversity, pristine beaches, exotic gourmet and amenities for wellness services in offering all-female Japanese tour packages.
The success of a familiarization tour held in Davao City participated in by least 12 major Japanese travel executives and bloggers boded well for the DoT joshi tabi program.
“Davao City’s soothing tranquility, oneness with nature, isolated beaches, Class-A wellness services, particularly massage and beauty care and the native cuisine may prove to be irresistible attractions to Japanese women,” Batoon said.
The famtour group, which included three Tokyo-based women executives, particularly enjoyed the visits at the Malagos Garden where they mingled with exotic birds.
At the honeymooners’ paradise Pearl Farm Beach Resort in nearby Samal Island, they pampered themselves with gourmet and massage services.
Batoon stressed that women travelers are an important travel segment, citing a 2016 Japan Tourism Marketing Co. research that says 60 percent of women make travel decisions by themselves.
The Tourism Attaché said Japanese women travelers are likely to come to the Philippines for its multi-gateway destination, providing easy access to both urban and natural attractions, and the Filipino’s uniquely warm hospitality.
“It seems more reasonable for Japanese travelers in general to fly low-cost carriers to the Philippines and stay here in a luxury hotel with luxury amenities,” Batoon added, saying that the Philippines has largely been undiscovered to date, with its more than 7,000 islands and the increasing number of high-end shopping malls, resorts and spas in the country.