Davao City Unveils Four New Tourism Circuits to Enhance Visitor Experiences
The Davao City government, through the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), officially launched four new tourism circuits on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Rogen Inn. This strategic initiative, named "Suroy 'Ta!", aims to provide a structured and immersive way for both visitors and residents to explore the diverse offerings of Davao City, reinforcing its status as a premier destination in Mindanao.
Expanding Tourism Horizons with Diverse Routes
The newly introduced circuits—Abundant Harvest, Furusato Davao, Davao Food Crawl, and Market Experience—offer guided travel routes that showcase the city's rich agricultural heritage, vibrant culinary scene, cultural connections, and bustling local markets. By presenting these varied aspects, the initiative encourages tourists to move beyond conventional landmarks and discover the unique identity of Davao City.
In his remarks at the launch, Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte congratulated tourism stakeholders and emphasized the significance of these circuits for the city's tourism strategy. He highlighted that the circuits are designed to improve connectivity between destinations, create opportunities for local businesses, and promote sustainable, community-centered tourism. Duterte expressed hope that this effort would energize the local tourism sector while encouraging visitors to explore more attractions across the city.
Strategic Collaboration and Sustainable Growth
Tanya Rabat-Tan, DOT-Davao Regional Director, commended the city's efforts, describing the expansion of tourism circuits as a strategic step toward sustainable growth. She noted that these circuits allow visitors to delve into the stories of local communities, history, and agriculture that make Davao distinct. Rabat-Tan also highlighted that programs like Suroy 'Ta help distribute tourism benefits across districts, enabling farmers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to gain from tourism activities.
Grace Plata, CTOO focal person, explained that each circuit was meticulously designed to spotlight different facets of Davao City. The Market Experience guides visitors through public markets and small enterprises, reflecting daily city life, while the Davao Food Crawl showcases the city's culinary offerings. Abundant Harvest emphasizes farm tourism and agricultural heritage, and Furusato Davao focuses on the historical and cultural ties between Davao and the Japanese community.
Enhancing Tourism Infrastructure and Outreach
Willenito P. Tormis Jr., CTOO officer-in-charge, announced that the circuits would be incorporated into official tourism recommendations for conventions, school groups, and organized tours. He noted that this initiative supports small and medium enterprises by including local establishments and market vendors along the routes. Additionally, the city is developing community-based tourism projects with indigenous groups, such as the Bagobo-Klata, focusing on cultural and culinary heritage.
Future plans include expanding the Kadayawan Village into a Davao City Cultural Village in collaboration with the Council of the Eleven Tribes, the City Economic Enterprises Office, and the Davao City Office for Culture and the Arts. Tormis also shared that the city is pursuing international tourism outreach, targeting Japanese and Chinese markets, with ongoing dialogues regarding direct flights to Davao.
Long-Term Vision and Community Impact
The development of these circuits involved collaboration with experts from the academe, tourism sector, and cultural institutions, including Warren Quiñones of Holy Cross of Davao College, Floreces Logronio-Tadla of CES Travel, tour guide Olan Emboscado, and Randy Tubo of Museo Dabawenyo. Their combined expertise ensured that each circuit delivers authentic, safe, and engaging experiences.
Tourism stakeholders welcomed the move, noting that the circuits allow operators to diversify packages, encourage longer stays, and benefit local communities, hotels, restaurants, and tour guides. The launch coincides with Davao City's 89th Araw ng Dabaw celebration and is expected to complement ongoing and future tourism promotions that highlight the city's cultural heritage, community experiences, and distinctive local attractions.
This initiative marks the beginning of a broader tourism development strategy aimed at encouraging visitors to explore more destinations and experiences throughout Davao City, fostering sustainable growth and enriching the local economy.
