Enhancing Davao's Tourism Experience
The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Davao is strategically positioning the Davao Crocodile Park and Zoo as a vital addition to the city’s diverse tourism offerings. This initiative aims to provide visitors with an easily accessible attraction that they can seamlessly incorporate into their travel itineraries while discovering the rich cultural and natural beauty of Davao. According to DOT Davao Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan, the park's convenient location offers a significant advantage, allowing tourists to enjoy a fulfilling experience without the need to dedicate an entire day to their visit.
During her recent visit to the park on August 18, Rabat-Tan expressed her enthusiasm for this attraction, highlighting its accessibility as a key factor that enhances its appeal. She noted that the Davao Crocodile Park and Zoo complements the existing array of activities available to tourists, ensuring that they can maximize their time in the city without feeling rushed. "It doesn’t really take a whole day of their time to experience what we do," Rabat-Tan emphasized, underscoring the park's potential to enrich the overall visitor experience.
Reintroducing a Unique Wildlife Experience
The recent visit to the Davao Crocodile Park and Zoo was not only an opportunity for DOT officials and tour guides to explore the facility but also served as a platform for the park to reintroduce its attractions, services, and recent developments to the tourism sector. Marco Philip Dizon, the President and CEO of the park, expressed his excitement about the continual expansion of the park's offerings over the years. "The reason for me inviting everyone here, including our regional director and the rest of the media team and the tour guides, is because we would like to once again reintroduce our product and services," Dizon stated, reflecting on the park's commitment to showcasing its evolving wildlife collection.
Having been a part of Davao City for over two decades, the park has significantly diversified its wildlife exhibits, now including species such as capybaras and zebras. Dizon highlighted the success of their breeding program, which has increased the capybara population from five to approximately 18, and noted that one of the zebras is currently pregnant. "These animals are not endemic to Davao. But these are animals that you hear about in books, you see on the internet, we hear from movies," Dizon remarked, pointing out that many locals may not be aware of such exotic species being part of their community.
In addition to its captivating wildlife, the park provides a variety of dining and entertainment options, including cultural performances and weekend fire dancing, which significantly enhance the visitor experience. Rabat-Tan indicated that the DOT is keen on exploring further collaboration opportunities with the park to develop activities that could benefit tourists and strengthen Davao’s existing tourism landscape. By integrating the Davao Crocodile Park and Zoo into the broader tourism strategy, stakeholders aim to create a more comprehensive Davao itinerary that invites visitors to immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant food, culture, and festival scenes while enjoying unique leisure experiences throughout the year.
As reported by sunstar.com.ph.
