A three-dimensional map will also be unveiled that will be eventually posted on the Internet to help would-be tourists better plan their travels on Mindanao.
Mr. Dureza said the medical tourism projects involve a dental facility and expansion of two big hospitals. "Let us wait for their officials to identify these projects," he said declining to provide details.
One of the retirement villages is a project of a Korean company, while the other is that of a Filipino company, he said. The inland resort, he added, is run by a local company.
Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque, chief of the Trade department’s National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center, confirmed that documents on these projects have already been filed with his office. "We have started looking into these documents since we want to approve them the soonest we can so they can immediately start development," he said in an interview.
A list of 46 proposed projects, other than the six, was sent to Board’s head office, Mr. Dureza said, so those projects could be matched with investors who are willing to pour in their capital in Mindanao. Many of these projects are from the Davao Region, while the others are from other regions of Mindanao, he added.
He said tourism is among the sectors with high potential for investment. "The region is endowed with much beauty. Davao Oriental, by way of example, has one of the longest beaches with white sand at 400 kilometers," he said.
The three-dimensional topographical map that will be unveiled this week will show the highways and bridges that connect key tourism spots on the island to help travelers plan their routes.
The 6x6 feet Mindanao Tourism and Transport Highway Map was developed by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Transportation and Communication.
Sonia V. Garcia, tourism regional director, said a parallel map which also shows the hotels and accommodations in all key sites as well as brochures will also be unveiled during the expo. Ms. Garcia said the map will show the routes from Davao City going to Island Garden City of Samal, Cagayan, Surigao, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga or tourist spots like Lake Sebu, Mt. Apo, or Mt. Kitanglad and others. "On the map, you will also able to see gaps in the connectivity...so it is now up to the private sector to ask the National Government to bridge those gaps," she said.
A soft copy of the map will soon be uploaded at the DoT Web site for Internet surfers who will like to have an idea on traveling by land in Mindanao, said Araceli L. Ayuste, vice-chairman of the Davao Region Tourism Council.
"The [original] map is so big I still don’t know where we are going to put it, maybe in a museum," she said.
Ms. Ayuste said domestic tourists seem to be more particular about accommodations, accessibility and security and they won’t travel unless they are confident of where they are going.
She said her team traveled throughout Mindanao for a road show for the travel expo.
"We went to Butuan from Davao City for a meeting thinking it will take seven hours," she said. "But we left 5 a.m. for Butuan and arrived there by 9 a.m."
That route usually takes from seven hours on good weather to up to 10 hours during rainy days.
Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo R. del Rosario said the Talaingod-Kapalong-Bukidnon road has been completed which makes it easier to travel to Northern Mindanao from Davao del Norte. The first-class coastal road linking the province to Davao Oriental and Surigao has also been completed, cutting travel time. — CQF and JBE.
