Capitalist pours P60 million to re-energize Bohol tourism

CEBU, Philippines - Downplaying the short-term effects of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the charming province of Bohol, a tourism capitalist announced to pour in multi-million-peso investment to help reinvigorate the island’s tourism sector.

“I don’t know if I should be happy or sad with what happened but what is important is that we were able to help the revival of Bohol’s tourism,” said Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP) managing director Jing Velasco.

CHAP is one of the tourism facilities in Bohol that immediately reopened after the October 15 earthquake, signifying Bohol’s positive outlook despite the calamity.

A 228-step stairway leads to the new viewing deck where one could view the unspoiled slopes of the world’s famous Chocolate Hills. CHAP has opened its “Honesty Café” that illustrates the Boholanos’ trait of trustworthiness, said Velasco.

“The Honesty Café is one way to make visitors feel that here in Bohol, you don’t have to fear that drivers will shortchange you. Boholanos are honest people,” Velasco said.

The development started last year in the four-hectare property located in Barangay Buenos Aires, Carmen.

“We soft opened in April and planned to introduce the park by middle of December this year, but because of the earthquake, we had no choice but to go full blast two months earlier than scheduled,” he said.

Velasco said the Department of Tourism (DOT) immediately responded to help Bohol recover after quake, and the government’s commitment to rebuild the affected infrastructure further encouraged the company to continue with its planned investment.

DOT secretary Ramon Jimenez earlier urged Bohol’s tourism enterprises to immediately get back on their feet as quickly as possible, considering that the province’s economy is mainly driven by the tourism sector.

The development of  the Park involves a P60-million investment budget, including the establishment of a 30-room accommodation facility that is expected to be commercially available by June of  next year.

Owned and operated by Camanayon Hill Development Corporation, CHAP offers ecotourism choices of activities including the amenities within the park.

“We simply enhanced the property. We did not build walls to separate our property from the neighborhood which will provide a rural-feel to visitors. Our guests can see farmers harvesting in rice fields,” he said.

A zipline will be completed within this month as part of the “eco-adventure” offering.

“Rappelling, monkey bridges, canopy walks and more rope courses will soon be offered,” Velasco added.

Likewise, other tourism players in Bohol expressed strong confidence of an instantaneous recovery of its tourism sector, saying immediately after the earthquake, visitors started to come despite challenges in road infrastructure.

While DOT and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are jointly rebuilding the affected infrastructure of the province, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also started to promote economic recharging by shifting to buying mode, from relief  mode. /JMD (FREEMAN)