TOURISM in Bohol appears to be bullish after 2023 during which the industry’s arrivals hit the one million mark (1,010,854) in 2023 higher than 535,803 a year prior, or 89.3% growth rate, based on the data of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office. It’s even expected that said figures could be surpassed this year.
If figures (1,010,854 multiplied by P16,900.00/tourist for average 4 days stay) is to be based, then, the industry has generated almost P17 billion last year.
Tourism posted 72.8% in services sector, while agriculture seems to be left behind with only 13.8%; and others, 13.4%. The total gross income of these sectors amounted to P159.9 billion.
This came despite the fact that the industry is still haunted, and still struggling, by perennial issues/concerns, such as, colorum vans for hire, escalating commissions to drivers, stray dogs, carrying capacity, shoreline cleanliness, coliform, lack of accredited accommodations and now the Koreans invasion, among others.
These are, no doubt, the findings of the newly reactivated Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) that gathered at Reyna’s resto in the city after the issuance of the executive Order signed by then Vice-Gov. Victor Balite, who was acting as governor at that time. Under the said EO, the PTC meeting has reconsidered the re-composition of the body and ruled that only one official representative of each sector is allowed to be a member, especially in the make-up of the executive board.
Gov. Aris Aumentado told the meeting that the reactivation should be pursued to preserve and protect the sites and environment and especially to continue provide livelihood of the people. As if he’s saying that “don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
The province could boast of its number of attractions, like nature having 207; sports/recreation, 150; health and wellness, 12; culture, 85; industrial, 36; others, 15. But these were not named in the BPTO presentation.
But the province still finds it hard to cater the need of growing accommodations, having only 786 accredited with the Department of Tourism of the total 10,620 rooms. Panglao has 209; Tagbilaran City, 71; Dauis,27, Anda, 21. Others were not mentioned.
The number of accredited tourism-related establishment totaled 202. These are the land transfer, 35; online travel agencies, 50; farm site, one; MICE (meetings, incentives, conference and enterprises), one; restaurants, 20; Spas, 6; tourist shops, 4; regional tour guides, 72; and community tour guides, 42.
The sector’s ancillary facilities and services, such as, transportation has only 379, broken down as follows: number of cars, 112; vans, 244; coasters, 8; and buses, 5.
The top ten market of the industry were shown with Koreans on top with 61.9%; China, 10%; Taiwan, 7.8%; USA, 6%; Germany, 2.7%; France, 2.6%; Japan, 2.6%; Canada, 2%; and others, 20.7%.
The most visited tourist spots at number one is the Chocolate Hills in Carmen town, then Mirrors of the World in Sikatuna, floating resto in Loboc, all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and Blood compact shrine in Bo-ol, Tagbilaran City. The must-visit site, Tarsier conservation, was not on the list of top five, however.
Along this vein, Panglao got the lion’s share of most visited destinations, having 413,171 domestic and 290,241 foreigners (65.1%); Tagbilaran, 137,826 and 6,980 (13.4%); Dauis, 18,547 and 9,755 (2.6%); Anda, 24,178 (domestics) and 7,906, (3%); and others, 93,193 domestics and 11,667 foreigners, (9.7%) of the pie. (rvo)
