by RG Alama

Davao City (7 July) -- An increase in the number of resorts in the Island Garden City of Samal is a mark of resilience that characterizes the tourism sector in Davao.

According to Araceli Ayuste President of the Davao Region Tourism Council and proprietor of the Punta del Sol resort in Samal said that from 20 resorts in Samal Island in 2007, there are at least 40 resorts in 2009 with more being developed.

Ayuste said that tourism in Davao is not affected by the global financial crisis judging by the tourism activities in the region. She said that even if you go to the hotels in Davao, they are nearly full-booked as conventions and lakbay-aral are being hosted and held in the City.

She says that the tourism growth has enticed many resorts in Samal to become active with their group the Samal Island Davao Resort Owners Association or SIDROA. In the past resort owners were hesitant to join the groups but with the upsurge in tourism, many are now joining because it benefits their businesses.

The group has about 40 member resorts from the Triple A to the uncategorized. Of the number about 25 resort-members are active in Sidroa. Together they are pushing for the region to position and promote itself, particularly as an island destination.

One tourism activity Ayuste is pushing together with technical diver Carlos Munda is diving. Currently Samal has three resorts with diving facilities. Pearl Farm, Paradise and Araceli's Punta del Sol.

Munda, the only certified technical diver in Mindanao, said the only one hindering the growth of diving businesses here is the lack of diving tourists. About 95% of the divers are locals of those from Davao City while 5% are tourists.

Unlike in Anilao and Puerto Galera, where 90% of the divers are tourists spending about P6,000 to P10,000 per weekend. He said that aside from boat rentals, tanks, food and accommodations, these tourists employ guides that generate local employment unlike local divers who are familiar with the place and spend lesser than tourists.

According to Ayuste, diving tourists would spend about P3, 000 per weekend in Davao, while local divers spend about P2, 000. Punta del Sol averages about 50 divers during weekends. She says that Samal has around 17 dive sites.

Munda also points out that Igacos has no Dive resort yet. These are resorts that cater only to divers and wouldn't delve into other amenities. These resorts he says are not capital intensive and hence fit for Igacos' community-based tourism enterprises.

Diving, he said is not about corals as divers also want to find big fishes and sea critters in different underwater environment. The current diving mania today Munda says is muck diving, which is diving done in muddy or mucky waters.