Cebu City, Philippines — Bohol is now ready to reopen and welcome tourists back to its shores.
The announcement came during a digital conference with members of the press as the province, together with tourism stakeholders launched the “Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale” an online sale where hotels, resorts, and tour operators offer massive price drops to lure tourists back to the island province.
Bohol Governor Arthur Yap explained that the province has long been ready for the return of tourists back to the island as health and safety protocols have been modified to fit the needs of tourists in co-relation to the guidelines set by the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
According to Yap, with the success of the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) in September; and the Philippine Tourism Destination Inventory and MICE+E Bohol Familiarization Trip both held in the island in December, the two events served as thrust as they open their shores to tourists.
Panglao Mayor Leonila Montelo said that Bohol’s premier tourist destination suffered huge losses during the lockdown that turned the once-bustling island into a “ghost town”.
The breathtaking view that Mount Labawan in Mabini town in Bohol offers. | Photo from John Rex Garcia Pogoy
“We have suffered loss, the establishment was forced to close, and have turned into a ghost town but, amid all the happenings we are more than ready to provide linkages to help promote tourism…” said Montelo.
However, as restrictions become less stringent, the town quickly recalibrated its safety protocols to fit local tourists on the island.
Montelo said that measures to ensure safe tourism in the island is constantly on the move to strengthen its policies to ensure the safety of tourists while still making it more convenient to its incoming and outgoing guests.
She explained that during tours, only accredited tourists transport services are allowed to accommodate tourists, the municipality has also placed a 24/7 tourist hotline to assist them with their concerns including those who would undergo a COVID-19 RT-PCR or Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test for those who wish to have a longer stay in the island.
Bohol, known for its pristine beaches and majestic diving spots has also established a paradigm shift in its diving activities.
“When we speak of diving, there is a thought na exclusive ra siya gyud…” she said.
However, the mayor shares that with the shift, they are now targeting families instead of individuals and involve them in their environmental activities and educational campaigns on coral conservation.
We have suffered loss, the establishment was forced to close, and have turned into a ghost town but, amid all the happenings we are more than ready to provide linkages to help promote tourism…
With the Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale, the local government sees an even brighter opportunity for the island’s tourism, as they remain in the top 3 tourist destinations in the Philippines next to Boracay and Palawan according to the Tourism Board of the Philippines.
Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale is an online travel sale by the Bohol LGU and tourism stakeholders that runs from February 21-March 14, 2021. More than 70% off on hotel accommodations, travel packages, and tours are on sale. The initiative is fully supported by the Department of Tourism, TBP, and Bohol LGU
You can head over to traveloka.ph/balikbohol to know participating hotels and tour operators. /rcg
