BOHOL bounces back in terms of tourism-related economic activity following the onslaught of the pandemic and the December 16, 2022 super typhoon “Odette.”
It is now ranked number two of the ten safest places in the country, according to Emerging Philippines facebook post.
The ten safest places in the country are: Davao (from one to ten), Bohol, Baguio, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Makati City, La Union, Palawan, Tagaytay and Valenzuela.
Emerging Philippines based its inference on each place’s peace and order situation.
“While scamming and pickpocketing do occur, the overall crime statistics show only 4.41 crimes per 100,000 people – which is not really high. Most of the reported crimes in the Philippines involve those such as vandalism, drugs, bribery, and corruption,” it said.
On this score, it said “we share some of the safest destinations in the Philippines to plan your getaway as well as some tips you can follow to make yourself less of a target.”
A tour operator said that the ranking, being number two safest places, could boost Bohol’s tourist arrivals in coming days after the relaxing of the health protocols in last three years.
Based on the projection of Bohol Tourism Office, some 116,153 or 52% of tourist arrivals during the first half of the year (2022). Of these figures, 112,879 were locals.
It was expected that the number of tourist arrivals increased during the second half of the year.
Based on the PPDO data available, tourists increased to 179,781 during the pandemic year 2021 from 177,341 in 2020.
The figures (116,153 in 2022) were way down from 1,581,904 in 2019; 1,496,129 in 2018; and 1,131,065 in 2017. (rvo)
