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PUBLICATION

High confidence on Davao Tourism

Photo-Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon with Spanish Amb. Ignacio Sagaz (left) came to Davao shortly after the 2^nd bomb incident in the city to attend the opening of the Spanish Food Festival in Barcelo Pearl Farm island Resort in Samal recently. It was business as usual to the two officials who believe that the Davaoenos must not be cowed by any forms of terrorism. Sagaz is the first foreign ambassador to visit Davao after the April 2 incident in Sasa.

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MB, p. C-4

Mindanao comes to Wow Manila

If you can’t or won’t go to Mindanao, you don’t need to travel far to see its tourism spots. From April 5-30, Intramuros “Best of the Regions” is featuring Northern Mindanao with the participation of more than 37 exhibitors. Twenty-five-five booths focus on the region’s  tourism destination and 12 others sell its more typical products and produce.

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MS,p. 2

WOW Mindanao!

Photo - Dancers open the Northern Mindanao festival in the continuing series of crafts and cultural exhibits featuring the regions in History Town Intramuros, Manila.

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MS, p. 1

DOT endorses P828.6 million worth of projects

The tourism department sees a healthy growth in tourism-related businesses following the endorsement of 59 tourism projects worth P828.66 million to the Board of Investments and Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board during the last six months.

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MS, p. A-6

Pasundayag-Northern Mindanao

Photo- Pres. Arroyo is greeted by a woman in colorful Mindanao costume as she arrives at the Pueblo Pilipino in Intramuros, Manila for the grand opening of the Pasundayag-Northern Mindanao travel festival Saturday night.

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PS, p. 1

Peace Pole Planting

Photo- Chief Justice Hilario Davide leads fellow Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Dra. Fe Del Mundo, Fr. James Reuter and Cecile Guidote Alvarez, in a Peace Pole Planting Ceremony hosted by Dept. of Tourism Sec. Gordon in Intramuros, Sec. Heherson Alvarez, Earthsavers founder, and Dr. Alejandro Poces of the ITI Philippine Center co-organized the significant event with World Peace Prayer Prayer Society, GOI Peace Foundation, headed by Hiroi Saonji for the triple observance of March for Women’s Right.

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PS, p.C-4

Intramuros live

Rod Dula – “ What pleases me most about the Intramuros Expo is its decidedly non-commercial character. Nowhere to be found are the logos on streamers and buntings of the most ubiquitous corporate sponsors, the Mcdonalds and Jollibees, the Smarts and the Globes. Instead the buildings are festooned with elegant banners emblazoned with Spanish colonial escutcheons.

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M,p. 5

Visit Intramuros

Belinda-Olivares Cunanan – Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon explained that Intramuros is among the highlights of the Visit Philippines 2003. The DOT has developed specific areas of the Walled City into a virtual composite heritage theme park.

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PDI, p. A9

Luring Local Tourists

Photo- High School students show off their talent to the judges of a street dancing competition during the Kalilangan festival in Gen. Santos recently.

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MB, p. G-4

Gordon pushes more int’l flights to Palawan

Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon is pushing for an increase in flights from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia to Puerto Princesa.

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MB, p. C-4

Davao tourism not affected by SARS scare

More projects will be launched to boost travel industry in coming months. The outbreak of SARS is not affecting tourism  industry of Mindanao, said a tourism official from South-Central MIndanao

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MB, p. G4

Japan not likely to raise travel advisory level for Davao region

Japan’s new consul to this city is not inclined to recommend a higher waring level for travelers to the Davao region. Up to 20,000 or 40% of the total number of foreigners arriving here annually are from Japan. Local tourism officials are expecting a bigger number of Japanese visitors starting in the middle of the year in commemoration of the 100^th year of a Japanese civilian settlement in this city.

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BW,p. 12

Japanese gov’t decides not to upgrade advisory

The Japanese embassy said over the weekend it won’t be upgrading a travel advisory issued by the Japan gov’t on its nationals despite the recent bombing incidents here.

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MB, p. G4

Tourists flock to SARS-free RP

Tourists are skirting countries known to have been struck by SARS and flocking to the Philippines which is considered a safet travel destination for being SARS-free.

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PJ,p. 2

The Pres. birthday

One of the highlights of her working birthday celebration was attendance to a birthday job fair organized by the DOLE at the SM Megamall. Accompanying the Pres. In that fair were Davao DOLE Sec. Pat Santo Tomas, Tourism Sec. Dick Gordon, and Health Sec. Manuel Dayrit.

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MB< p. 11

Nautical highway a boon to farmers

Farmers, specially those from far flung areas to Mindanao who are having a hard time marketing their produce  due to lack of transport facilities, will be among the prime beneficiaries of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

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MB, p. C-3