The Davao Tourism Association (DATA) has launched the so-called Davao tourist passport in Davao City, an initiative aimed at promoting tourism and strengthening the role of the private sector in the tourism industry.

DATA clarified that it is not an official government-issued document, but a tourist passport designed to help the private sector in the city’s tourism industry.

“Actually there’s been a lot of noise about the Davao tourist passport. It is not a political passport, it is not a legal document, but it is a passport to push our beloved Davao. It is like an instrument or a channel for you to get into the different spots, different restaurants and perks that we have,” DATA Head for Membership Committee, Marissa Tionko, said.

Holders of the tourist passport can enjoy discounts and special promos at participating tourism-related establishments.

Each time a tourist passport holder visits a partner destination, the establishment will stamp the passport as a souvenir of the visit.

“We encourage tour operators to curate package tours specific to promoting Davao City so we will be pushing the distribution on the second week of November as we call it pre-selling… the effectivity would be on January 2026 until December 2026. How will you get it? We will be posting on FB page our distribution channels,” DATA Vice President, Lynn Barlis, said.

The tourist passport will be available for P500.

“Once you are able to avail one of the offering inside the passport, you will get back more of what you have spent for the passport,” Barlis added.

The Department of Tourism-Davao (DOT-11) has expressed support for the initiative.

“The DOT supports the initiative of DATA as it really promotes travel and supports the local economy,” DOT-11 Director, Tanya Rabat-Tan, said.