An approach to entice more tourists to visit Davao City and the region through sports will be discussed in the upcoming Sports Tourism Forum to be held on January 31, 2012 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

This one day event, presented by Davao City, Department of Tourism and TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority), is open to all sports officials and organizers and tourism professionals.

The event is organized by Selrahco Management - a top corporate events and sports marketing company in the country -  encouraging LGU’s, event management companies, corporate event directors, sports officials, schools, tour operators, hotels and resorts, sports clubs and anyone with the heart to promote tourism through sports to join the Forum.

The Sports Tourism Forum, founded in 2004, has slated high-caliber sports industry experts to share their expertise in the field. There will be lectures in staging, planning and management, sports marketing, sports promotion and partnering with media outlets and developing a top sports tourism destination.

Speakers include, Princess Galura of IMG Philippines, William Ramirez – former chair of Philippines Sports Commission, Cesar Cruz of Philippine Tour Operators Association, Vitto Lazatin of AKTV (TV5) and Matthew Cullen of Philippine Rugby Union (of the Philippine Volcanoes).

Masrina Mohd Bakri, tourism director of Malaysia, Manila; Blessie Labra Cruz of Cebu Pacific Air and Department of Tourism Regional Director, Art Boncato will also share their expertise.

Lending prestige to the Forum, Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. of the Department of Tourism will deliver the keynote address with Mayor Sarah Duterte of Davao City opening the Forum.

“With this line up of experts, we are hopeful that the sports tourism forum will urge sports enthusiasts, event organizers, and tourism stakeholders to focus on developing tourism concepts that would also revolve around sports,” said Charles Lim, founder of the Sports Tourism Forum.

“It will focus on developing Davao as a sports tourism destination,” he added.