Bohol tourism popularity rising

CEBU, Philippines — With ecotourism circuit in place coupled with a new international airport, Bohol has cemented its popularity as a preferred destination among local and international tourists.

Cebu Travel and Tour Association (CTTA) president Angelita C. Dy said bookings for Bohol have significantly increased in the last couple of months as travelers have rediscovered the province’s appeal through its structured ecotourism packages.

Panglao Island has also earned the reputation of an alternative beach destination to Boracay.  

“Bohol is something ‘very hot’ for travelers now. Their countryside tours are the most in demand,” said Dy, who also owns Grand Hope Travel Inc.

Cebu, on the other hand, continues to draw more tourists and most of them are booking for arranged nature trips like going to Oslob’s whale-shark watching, water falls, as well as beaches.

Recently, DOT undersecretary Arturo P. Boncato, Jr., urged Cebu stakeholders and local government units (LGUs) in the provinces to build good “tourism circuits.”

Cebu as a province, he said has to identify more tourism circuits, such as the natural circuit formed in the southern Cebu destination, where culture, heritage and eco-tourism is packaged as one complete treat to tourists.

Tourism circuits consist of two or more tourism attraction sites located closely enough that they can be grouped together for development and/or marketing purposes according to the National Tourism Development Plan of the Philippines.

“Cebu can develop a lot of tourism circuits like shopping, food, and a lot more,” Boncato said but this suggestion can only be realized if the LGU leaders are pro-active in pushing the tourism sector in their respective localities.

Dy confirmed that the interest now is more into ecotourism trips, nature destinations, including farm attractions.