The booth for the province of Bohol at the 34th Philippine Travel Mart. | Photo from the FB page of Erico Aris Aumentado
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The province of Bohol showcased its local products and tourism destinations, including its Chocolate Hills, during the 34th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) that opened on Friday, September 1, 2023, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Photos and videos showing local destinations and samples of the products from the municipalities of Anda, Panglao, and Loboc, Carmen and Antequera, among others, were on display at its booth at the PTM.
Joining travel and tourism expos was part of the strategy of the provincial government to ensure the sustainability of its tourism industry and to take advantage of tourists who are on ‘revenge travel.’
“In our commitment to sustainable tourism, our concepts in all engagements, like in this tourism fair, showcase bamboo as well as [other] local products [that were] made and produced in Bohol,” said Joanne Pinat, officer-in-charge of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office (BPTO).
Governor Erico Aris Aumentado leads the Bohol delegation to the Travel Mart. | Photo from the Bohol provincial government
The provincial government, in an advisory, quoted Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte saying that tourist arrivals on the island-province increased by 114.12 percent from January to June this year compared to the same period last year.
In the State of the Province Address (SOPA) that he delivered in July, Governor Erico Aris Aumentado said that they hope to surpass the one million mark for tourism arrivals by the end of the year.
Aumentado said that their marketing and promotion efforts through their participation in tour and travel expos and international ecotourism travel marts and forums are expected to aid in achieving this target.
Doing so was also expected to elevate Bohol’s profile in the global stage and draw travelers coming from all corners of the world.
The governor said that tourism arrivals mean revenues for the locals and the government.
“Our tourism businesses and stakeholders earned an estimated P7.3 Billion in 2022, and for 2023 so far, an estimated P3.8 Billion as of May 31,” said Aumentado, who led the delegation from Bohol in this year’s PTM that was participated by nearly 300 exhibitors coming from all 17 regions of the country. / dbs
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