WITH several infrastructure investments pouring into Bohol, Gov. Edgar Chatto believed that the province would become once again a top tourist destination in the country.
Chatto was referring to the new P7-billion Bohol airport project in Panglao, which has already started construction and targeted to be operational in the first quarter of 2018.
“Once the Panglao airport opens, the old airport in Tagbilaran will be transformed into a business area. This new airport is a full development with a master plan and through it, we expect to capture 1.7 million tourists a year,” Chatto said.
If these and all their infrastructure development plans would be delivered successfully, Bohol could most likely beat known tourist destinations abroad like Bali, Indonesia, said Chatto during last month’s launching of the Kew Hotel in Tagbilaran City.
Chatto also cited the opening of the seven-story, 58-room business hotel, owned by motorcycle and appliance distributor Du Ek Sam, as one of the latest investments in the province aimed at boosting local tourism.
“We are working on charting Bohol as one of the top tourist destinations in the country. It is also a timely investment since Philippine Airlines is set to open direct flights to Korea soon,” said Chatto.
Chatto said he met recently with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) regarding the the new airport project, which was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Chatto also said that their tourism statistics had already picked up after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the province in 2013.
The tourism sector has been providing job opportunities in Bohol province.