Bluewater Panglao Resort: Giving Bohol tourism a boost

MANILA, Philippines - Bohol, the 10th largest island in the country, has been a slice of heaven on earth for local and foreign tourists alike. In recent years, the province has been one of the most-visited destinations in the Philippines. With plenty of things to do and places to see, Bohol has continued to beckon travelers to experience its natural and man-made wonders.

However, it is not a secret to many that Bohol has been experiencing challenges in the last two years. According to Walter Sultan, vice chairman of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council, the province was brought down to its knees when it experienced a double whammy of an earthquake and a super typhoon late last year. Sultan adds that the one-aircraft policy in the Tagbilaran airport implemented in 2012 has also decreased number of flights from 14 a day to just seven, which significantly reduced tourist arrivals by 15 to 20 percent.

Here’s the good news: a tourism recovery plan has already been mapped out. “One of the important activities of our tourism recovery plan is improving our airline access. An international airport in Panglao is already underway and will be operational by 2016. In the meantime, we plan to expand the Tagbilaran airport to accommodate more tourists,” says Sultan. “We also have the Bangon Tours and we’re looking at coming up with a geological and scientific tour that will involve the areas affected by the earthquake.”

Heeding to the call of the local provincial tourism council, Bluewater Panglao Resort has been offering the Bangon Tours (“Bangon” is the Filipino word for “to rise”) since last year to encourage more tourists to come to Bohol.

“The Panglao property of Bluewater Resorts is very active in helping boost tourism in Bohol,” says Edison Navasa, resident manager of Bluewater Panglao Resort. “The Bangon Tours package features discounted room rates, more or less 40 percent off of published rates. These are special rates to lure more people to choose Bohol for their next trip. And the response was overwhelming!”

Navasa says that guest profile at the resort is still dominated by Koreans, followed by Japanese, Filipinos and other nationalities. “It’s a good mix. About 30 to 35 percent of our guests are Koreans. Based on feedback, our guests love that there are a lot of activities that they can do in the resort,” says Navasa. “That’s our goal: to add more activities in our 5.5-hectare property so that our guests will truly enjoy their stay here and make the most of their vacation. We have two swimming pools and a beach front where our guests can enjoy water activities like snorkeling, glass bottom boat, kayaking, diving, hobbie cat sailing and stand up paddle boarding. ”

The resort also arranges for countryside and island hopping tours to allow guests to experience the sights and sceneries of Bohol. Although most of the churches are still under construction, one can still see past through the cracks the charm of these century-old churches. Most roads have already been repaired, proving that Bohol has slowly gotten back to its good shape.

Bluewater Panglao Resort invites tourists to rediscover the province because “Bohol is still beautiful” despite the disasters last year. For one, the resort offers a luxurious escape that honors the island’s natural beauty. Its Filipino architecture and design complement Bohol’s culture, inherent warm hospitality, and eco-focused initiatives. The Panglao resort, the youngest of the Bluewater Resorts siblings (that include Bluewater Maribago and Bluewater Sumilon, both in Cebu) aims to showcase local beauty through its structure, rooms, food, and services.

Despite the disasters last year, the resort never lost its charm. Its elegant, innovative and functional designs remain to be one of Panglao’s best.

 â€œAlthough there were some cancellations and rebooking, we are positive that the growth we have experienced since December will continue, especially that it’s already the peak season,” says Navasa. “It’s not difficult to sell Bohol because the place has already established itself as one of the Philippines’ most beautiful. And when you’re in Bohol, stay at Bluewater Panglao and we promise to show you the beauty of the province.”