Possibility of promoting tourism with North Sulawesi eyed

The International Relations Board is eyeing the promotion of tourism between Davao City and Manado in North Sulawesi once its existence has been fully legally formalized.

The City Council has approved the resolution proposing the creation of the International Relations Board but is awaiting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s approval. However, members of the Board are raring to start working on maintaining and renewing sisterhood ties with other cities particularly Manado in Sulawesi with which the city has a sisterhood agreement signed on June 22, 2004.

“Tourism promotion between Mindanao and Indonesia has already started several years ago thanks to the BIMP-Eaga initiatives,” Council Committee on International Relations chairperson Rachel Zozobrado said. BIMP-Eaga or the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area is an economic cooperation among the four regions that aims to develop their resources including tourism, education, trade and communication.

However, Zozobrado said, there is so much more that can be done to promote the two areas to their residents through the sisterhood agreement signed between the two cities. The Board, with the help of Davao City’s travel industry can explore specific strategies to promote Davao tourism to Manado, she said.

Even North Sulawesi is also excited about trade and tourism prospects between the two cities. BIMP-EAGA North Sulawesi Secretariat head Dr. Shelley Sondakh also indicated their intent to “explore collaboration and complementation areas between Sulawesi and Mindanao” particularly Davao and General Santos City.

Davao Association of Travel Agencies president Angel Puentespina said tourism packaging for the BIMP-EAGA will definitely give local tourism a boost. He said tourism players in the region have recently launched an initiative to develop tour packages that will promote EAGA destinations.

Zozobrado said a regular flight between Davao and Manado will also lead to more tourist exchange between the two cities. Merpati Airlines flies between Davao and Manado on a chartered basis.

“The Board can closely look into the various possibilities offered by our sisterhood agreements with other cities to get the most economic advantage for Davao City,” Zozobrado said.