Thesis, Undergraduate (BA Social Science) -- U. P. in Mindanao

Davao City's tourism industry has been developing and growing. Since its inclusion into the BIMP-EAGA, it has been the recipient of various project aimed at improving the city's economy. Tourism has been one of the areas affected by this inclusion. Davao city considers tourism as one of the city's major industry. The Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area is an organization of ASEAN member states committed to helping each other to achieve economic stability. Regional cooperation is the main goal of the organization. Through regional cooperation they are able to help each other realize each members niche in the ASEAN. The working group of EAGA in the Transportation and Communication enacted policy no. TC1. 3/1.4 or the improved air linkages policy in the whole of EAGA. The creation of additional air service is the realization of this policy. It is then the purpose of this undergraduate thesis entitled ?Tourism Industry in Davao City : Focus on the Kota Kinabalu-Davao City Air Linkage? to evaluate the said air services and to find out whether these additional air services had met the objective of the policy of improved air linkages. And to find out if it had a positive effect on the tourism industry of Davao City. The method utilized in this study was the evaluation method. The data collected in order to analyze the air route was secondary information. The data gathered were historical data, existing studies on EAGA, and government statistical data, specifically that of the Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation and Communication. The data analyzed were by comparing the outcome of the implementation with the objectives already set by the policy. The indicator used in the study is effectiveness, it measures the achievement of the outcome in terms of accomplishing the goals set by the policy. The study found the implementation of the additional route was effective in the sense that it was able to meet the objectives or the standards set by the policy. It was able to increase the accessibility of the region in question as well as renewed foreign tourist interest to the region. There was an increase in the number of passenger rates in Davao City, as well as the hotel occupancy rates. There was also an increase in the rate of visitors in two tourist spots of Davao City, one of which is the Philippine Eagle Center and the other is Paradise Beach Resort. In conclusion the data showed that overall the implementation of the policy through the establishment of the air linkage was effective. Even if one would say that the operation of the route in question was ceased, still the reason for this cannot be equated to the ineffectiveness of the of the policy or the route. Since the cause of the cessation was the Asian Financial Crisis, which is an external factor.