DAVAO CITY — Tourist arrivals in Davao City surged 15 percent in the first two months of 2026, climbing to 173,000 from 165,000 in the same period last year. Councilor Myrna G. Dalodo-Ortiz, chair of the Committees on Tourism and Beautification, confirmed the data during the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos on April 14. “Our festivals continue to draw tourists,” she said. The city recorded 165,867 visitors in January and 173,344 in February.
The momentum continued into March, which posted 186,131 arrivals—a 17.38 percent increase over March 2025. City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge Willenito Tormis Jr. said the monthlong Araw ng Dabaw celebration was a major driver. “We are happy because last March our tourist arrivals posted a huge increase,” Tormis said. Philippine residents accounted for the majority of visitors, rising from 154,794 to 163,010 in February.
Festivals Power the Surge
Festivals have become the engine of Davao’s tourism economy. The Kadayawan Festival drew 206,506 visitors in August 2025, while Pasko Fiesta attracted 192,969 arrivals in December. These figures from the previous year established a baseline that early 2026 has already begun to exceed. Araw ng Dabaw’s extended monthlong format generated higher foot traffic than its traditional shorter run.
The city is now preparing for Duaw Dabaw in June, which will feature sporting events, cultural showcases, and the expanded Kape ug Tsokolate Crawl. Tormis said the city has introduced new tourism circuits, tours, and products to help local businesses stay visible. Four new circuits launched in March now cover cultural, agricultural, culinary, and market experiences, broadening the visitor offering beyond traditional landmarks. The city is targeting a 50 percent arrival surge during Kadayawan.
A Strategy Rooted in Community and Small Business
Tormis described a deliberate strategy to spread tourism spending beyond headline attractions. “Our restaurants and establishments are already there, but people need to be reminded of what we offer,” he said. New curated tours now highlight local eateries and small businesses that visitors might otherwise overlook. The goal is to ensure that micro, small, and medium enterprises benefit directly from rising foot traffic.
This approach has drawn support from the Davao City Council. Councilor Dalodo-Ortiz stressed that sustained collaboration between government, the CTOO, and private stakeholders is driving the recovery. The city’s tourism strategy also targets international markets, with Japanese tourists increasingly visiting through private tour operators organizing dedicated coffee and cultural tours. Davao was recently ranked the country’s top travel destination for the second consecutive year, scoring 75.66 in the World Travel Index.
