CEBU CITY – Tourism activities in Dapitan City are back in full swing, the city’s tourism officer declared.
Apple Marie Agolong said the easing of Covid-19 restrictions has allowed the city’s tourism activities to pick up with local and foreign tourists starting to come in once again.
In a recent interview with Cebu-based reporters, Agolong said the city is looking to attract more tourists as it lined up a series activities for the Revisitamos Dapitan 1892 from July 16 to 31.
Agolong said Revisitamos is part of the 130th anniversary celebration of the arrival of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in Dapitan.
The city hosted the recent Kadaugan Sa Katawhan Sa ZaNorte (Victory of the People of Zamboanga del Norte) or Kasa KaZa Festival.
Kasa Kaza featured week-long sporting events which culminated in the inauguration of Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rosalina "Nanay Nene" Garcia Jalosjos.
Just like in Kasa Kaza, Revisitamos will also feature several sporting events.
Agolong explained that Dapitan is banking on sports tourism in its bid to become one of the prime tourist hubs in Mindanao.
Making sports as one of the city’s tourism driver is an initiative of former Rep. Romeo “Nonong” Jalosjos Jr., Agolong said.
"We are actually doing this through the initiative of Sir Nonong. It's really his vision to make Dapitan as the center for tourism in this part of the region. So when you say here in Region 9, Zamboanga Peninsula, the tourism hub is Dapitan so we are trying to come up with a lot of things that would really make Dapitan as the place to be,” Agolong said.
Agolong said the city has so much to offer such as the Rizal Shrine and the renowned Dakak Park and Beach Resort.
Newly elected Dapitan Mayor Seth Frederick Jaloslos likewise believed that sports tourism will give the city a boost.
Discovering new talents that will represent the city in national and international competitions is also one the city’s goals to push for sports tourism.
"We will definitely integrate sports into our tourism programs. It's high time to put our efforts and more funding in other sports. I know that there are a lot of potentials in our region that just needed to be tapped,” the Dapitan mayor said.