Davao Region Tourism Achieves Robust Recovery and Expansion in 2025
The Department of Tourism–Davao Region (DOT-Davao) has unveiled impressive tourism accomplishments for the year 2025, showcasing a period of strong recovery and significant expansion. This announcement was made during the Tourism Industry Gathering and Recognition of Stakeholders event held on January 22, 2026, at the prestigious Grand Regal Hotel in Lanang, Davao City. The gathering brought together key stakeholders to celebrate milestones and outline future strategies.
Surge in Visitor Arrivals and International Demand
From the first to the third quarter of 2025, the Davao Region recorded a remarkable 2.897 million overnight travelers, indicating sustained momentum and robust growth within the tourism sector. According to DOT-Davao Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan, this figure represents an 11 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2024. This upward trend reflects renewed traveler confidence and a steady path toward recovery and expansion, signaling a vibrant comeback for the region's tourism industry.
International markets played a crucial role in this growth, with the United States emerging as Davao's top foreign source market. It was closely followed by China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, highlighting a renewed global demand for the region's diverse and appealing destinations. DOT data revealed that foreign arrivals peaked during the first quarter of 2025, underscoring the effectiveness of targeted marketing efforts and enhanced global appeal.
Domestic Tourism as the Primary Driver
Despite the notable increase in foreign arrivals, domestic tourism remained the cornerstone of the region's tourism performance. Filipino travelers sustained the path for various travel segments, including leisure travel, meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), as well as family and group travel. This strong domestic marketing provided essential stability to tourism enterprises across the region, allowing the industry to grow and thrive even amid global fluctuations.
Rabat-Tan also emphasized the region's stable peace and security situation, which has reinforced Davao's reputation as a safe, reliable, and visitor-friendly destination. This factor has been instrumental in attracting both local and international visitors, contributing to the overall positive trajectory.
Enhanced Connectivity Boosting Tourism Flow
DOT-Davao reported continued efforts to strengthen air connectivity, positioning Davao City as a regional hub that links domestic and international markets. Private sector initiatives played a key role through expanded airline services, improved accommodation facilities, enhanced tourism services, and the development of innovative local products. Rabat-Tan highlighted improved travel times from key destinations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and Qatar, supported by coordination through the Air Service Development Committee meeting held in September 2025.
A key enabler of this positive performance was the continued operation and expansion of international and domestic air routes. International flights strengthened Davao's linkages to strategic overseas markets, supporting inbound tourism and reinforcing the region's role as Mindanao's gateway. Domestic connectivity remained strong, with short flight times linking Davao to major Philippine destinations, including Manila, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Siargao. Additionally, expanded sea routes in Davao City further improved connectivity, encouraged repeat visits, and opened opportunities to tap emerging markets.
Growth of Tourism Enterprises and Accreditation
As of December 31, 2025, DOT-Davao recorded 383 accredited primary tourism enterprises and 58 accredited secondary enterprises across the region. These include a wide range of establishments such as accommodation facilities, travel agencies, tour guides, transport operators, restaurants, dive shops, agri-tourism sites, and recreation centers. Accommodation establishments accounted for a significant share, with 143 accredited lodgings recorded.
Rabat-Tan described accreditation as a key driver of service standards, investor confidence, and consumer trust. She called for expanded accreditation efforts, particularly in food and beverage, wellness, transport, and sports and recreational services, to further formalize the tourism sector and strengthen service quality.
Promotions and Market Expansion Initiatives
In 2025, the region actively participated in 12 regional and international travel and trade expos, engaging more than 100 tourism stakeholders and over 200 foreign buyers and operators. Major activities included the Philippine Travel Mart, Mindanao Tourism Expo, and international roadshows in Japan, Australia, and Thailand. These efforts were aimed at expanding Davao's reach in long-haul and emerging markets, boosting destination visibility through familiarization tours for media, dive operators, and travel agents, and supporting tourism-related filming.
Advancements in MICE and Adventure Tourism
DOT-Davao assisted 21 meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) activities in 2025 and conducted town hall meetings to strengthen Davao's positioning as a competitive MICE destination. The Davao Adventure Challenge program also gained significant traction, recording 1,960 challengers and 547 approved challenges. This initiative was supported by various airline, hotel, mall, dive shop, and brand partners, highlighting the region's diverse tourism offerings.
Workforce Training as a Core Priority
Tourism workforce development remained a core priority, with 14,892 individuals trained under the Tourism Industry Skills Program in 2025. Training covered essential areas such as service excellence, tour guiding, hospitality operations, food safety, disaster preparedness, mental health support, and safety and rescue. These efforts strengthened the region's human capital, ensuring that the tourism sector is well-equipped to handle rising visitor numbers and maintain high service standards.
Strategic Roadmap Through 2028
DOT-Davao outlined the Regional Tourism Development Plan 2025–2028, anchored on six strategic goals:
- Upgrading tourism infrastructure and accessibility.
- Embracing digitalization and enhancing connectivity.
- Elevating visitor experience.
- Expanding tourism circuits and offerings.
- Optimizing domestic and international markets.
- Strengthening tourism governance.
Overall, the tourism accomplishments of the Davao Region in 2025 demonstrate the positive impact of strengthened connectivity, effective promotion, diversified product development, and continuous stakeholders' capacity-building. As Rabat-Tan concluded, these efforts have set a solid foundation for sustained growth and innovation in the years to come.
