Air traffic woes impede Bohol tourism recovery

CEBU, Philippines - As Bohol slowly recuperates from the adverse effects of last year’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake, problems on air traffic congestion is causing a negative effect to the tourism industry of the province.

Mayette Gazatan of  Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that bad infrastructure, air traffic congestion due to unfixed runways, among others are affecting the supposedly recovering tourism sector in Bohol.

Gazatan said that the government should expedite the implementation of infrastructure projects, especially those affecting the flow of people traveling from one province to another.

She added that there are a lot of flights delayed going to Bohol, because of the infrastructure mess up especially in the Manila airport.

This problem gives inconvenience to tourists and is giving bad impressions to people both domestic and international tourists to visit Bohol.

Gazatan said Bohol tourism stakeholders are working hard to bring back the attractiveness of the province immediately after the earthquake in October last year, but there are things that only the government can provide solutions, like fixing the infrastructure, among others.

DTI-Bohol provincial director Maria Elena C. Arbon said aside from improving the destination sites and fixing the attractions in Bohol to bring back the interest of tourists, the province is also strengthening its souvenir industry by introducing the "Travel Retail" program, where makers of souvenir items, including those offering Boholano delicacies will be given prominence and aggressive marketing in high tourist traffic areas.

Arbon said the "Travel Retail" concept is expected to boost the entire local tourism value chain.  (FREEMAN)