DAVAO CITY – The Davao City government launched four new tourism circuits on Friday, March 6, aimed at diversifying visitor experiences and strengthening this city’s position as a key tourism destination in Mindanao.

The Davao City Tourism Operations Office, with the Department of Tourism-11 and other stakeholders, introduced the Abundant Harvest, Furusato Davao, Food Crawl, and Market Experience as the city’s new tourism circuits at Rogen Inn Davao.

Dubbed “Suroy Ta,” the CTOO team designed the new circuits to present different aspects of Davao City’s identity. The initiative features curated travel routes that highlight the city’s agriculture, culinary scene, cultural heritage, and local markets.

In a message delivered at the launch, Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who congratulated tourism stakeholders, said the new circuits aim to enhance the visitor experience while promoting responsible, inclusive tourism development in the city.

“As we continue to advance the tourism industry in Davao City, it is timely and strategic to introduce initiatives that showcase the richness of our heritage, the beauty of our landscapes, and the vibrancy of our local communities,” Duterte added.

Duterte said the new circuits also aim to strengthen connectivity between destinations, create opportunities for local enterprises, and ensure tourism development remains sustainable and community-centered.

He expressed hope that the initiative would further energize the local tourism sector and encourage visitors to explore more attractions, experiences, and destinations within the city.

“We proudly showcase to the world that Davao City offers not only remarkable destinations, but also authentic experiences shaped by the culture, hospitality, and resilience of its people,” Duterte said.

The Market Experience and Food Crawl circuits take visitors through bustling markets and food hubs, showcasing local cuisine and everyday city life, while the Abundant Harvest highlights the agricultural heritage and farm tourism sites.

Furusato Davao focuses on the historical and cultural ties between Davao and the Japanese community, which played a significant role in shaping the city’s economic, cultural, and historical development.

DOT-11 Director Tanya Rabat-Tan lauded the CTOO and other tourism stakeholders. She said expanding tourism circuits is a strategic step toward sustaining tourism growth in Davao City and in the Davao region.

“Through these tourism circuits, visitors can see more than just well-known landmarks,” Tan said, adding that the tours also allow visitors to discover the stories of the city’s communities, history, and agricultural heritage that make Davao unique.

She noted that initiatives such as Suroy’ Ta can help distribute tourism opportunities across different districts, enabling more communities, farmers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to benefit from tourism activities.

Tan also emphasized that themed experiences such as Furusato Davao, which highlight the city’s Japanese heritage, help preserve multicultural traditions while providing meaningful cultural experiences for visitors.

Grace Plata, focal person of the Tourism Circuit Development Project, said the city’s tourism department developed the new routes through collaboration among government agencies, tourism stakeholders, and academic partners.

“In recent years, Davao City only had two validated tourism circuits – the city tour and the countryside tour,” Plata said. “We wanted Davao not just to remain a gateway destination, but to encourage tourists to stay longer and discover more of the city.”

Plata said the four new tourism circuits underwent validation and safety checks involving several local government offices and the DOT to ensure they are ready for promotion and commercial tour operations.

The development team included representatives 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 and researcher Olan Emboscado, and Randy Tubo of the Museo Dabawenyo.

During a press conference following the launch, CTOO officer-in-charge Willenito Tormis Jr. said the new circuits will be included in the city’s official tourism recommendations, particularly for delegates attending conventions, schools, and organized tours.

“Many visitors who come to Davao have already experienced the usual city tour. The question now is what else they can visit?” Tormis said. “So, these new circuits provide additional options for them to explore.”

Tormis said the city is also encouraging visits to cultural villages and emerging attractions as part of efforts to diversify tourism offerings and provide visitors with more unique and meaningful travel experiences.

Aside from the city’s identity and connectivity between destinations, Tormis noted that the circuits are designed to support small and medium enterprises by including local establishments and market vendors in the tour routes.

“In the Market Experience circuit, we intentionally include smaller establishments instead of focusing only on prime locations because we want to help local businesses grow,” Tormis said.

CTOO is planning additional tourism initiatives, including the development of a Davao City Cultural Village at Magsaysay Park to expand the existing Kadayawan Village, in collaboration with the City Economic Enterprises Office, the Davao City Office for Culture and the Arts, and the city’s 11 ethnolinguistic tribes.

Plata said the city is likewise developing community-based tourism projects, including initiatives involving indigenous communities such as the Bagobo-Klata, with a focus on cultural and culinary heritage.

Tormis emphasized that the launch of the new circuits is only the beginning of a broader tourism development strategy. “Our goal is to go beyond what we used to offer and encourage visitors to explore more destinations and experiences in Davao City.”

Floreces Logronio Tadla of CES Travel said the new circuits will allow tour operators to diversify tour packages by offering more curated travel experiences and help encourage tourists to stay longer and explore more of the city’s attractions.

“The initiative benefits not only tour operators but also hotels, restaurants, tour guides, and local communities,” Tadla said, adding that routes also help promote Davao’s culture, history, and local products to both domestic and international markets.

Warren Quiñones, a tourism and hospitality faculty member at Holy Cross of Davao College, said the circuits are part of a longer planning process that began with tourism inventory and concept design.

“After this stage, there will be continuous impact studies and improvements to ensure that the circuits remain effective and sustainable,” Quiñones said, as he welcomed the new tourism circuits.

Davao City officials said the Suroy’ Ta initiative is expected to complement the ongoing 89th Araw ng Dabaw celebration and future tourism promotions aimed at showcasing Davao City’s cultural heritage and community experiences.