DAVAO City's participation as part of the Philippine delegation to the 2013 World Travel Market (WTM) slated at Excel London in the United Kingdom from November 4 to 7 has already been approved by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a city official said.

Davao City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge Lisette Marques told reporters Wednesday that they are currently processing the necessary documents and their visas.

She will be travelling with Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, committee chair on tourism and beautification; a tour operator; a resort representative; and a tourism officer of Davao del Sur.

Marques said that Davao is the only region in Mindanao to have been selected by the Department of Tourism's (DOT) Tourism Promotions Board to exhibit in the 300 square meter Philippine Pavillion. Davao City will also be the only local government unit to represent the region.

Marques said the city's participation in the London exhibit will be a big opportunity to present Davao and the Philippines to the world since the event's format will be business to business. She explained that with this format they will be able to reach to a much more wider market especially to the tour operators.

They have also prepared digital copies of their promotion materials for the operators to use and also for the DOT offices in London.

"We are happy that the tourism promotions board have chosen Davao City to be a travel hub for Mindanao for now. And in the coming years, when we have made our mark internationally, we can then move on to Davao and beyond," said Marques.

She added that they will also be promoting the Philippines as a whole and making foreigners see that there are more things to see beyond Manila.

Almasor (Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon), Cordillera, and private stakeholders like airlines, hotels, and resorts will also be exhibiting in the pavillion.

Leading global travel event for the travel industry WTM had a total of 47,425 participants and 28,780 visitors from 184 countries.

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Davao to join world travel market in UK