DOT to promote Chocolate Hills as a place for "unique" weddings

The famous Chocolate Hills in Bohol will soon be an ideal place for weddings, especially for foreigners who want to have a unique wedding.

This according to Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, who assured Bohol officials that the DOT will help boost tourism in the province by promotng the Chocolate Hills as an ideal wedding place to Japanese and Koren couples.

Durano, who was the guest of honor at the inauguration of the newly-completed Chocolate Hills Hotel in Carmen town, said that when he visited other countries, he was informed that some Japanese and Korean couples want to have a "unique" marriage. Among the popular "unique" weddings are those done underwater or in the sky while skydiving.

Last year, a German couple got married while sky diving in Mactan. The couple landed at the Tagbilaran City airport. He said the DOT will prepare the necessary documents for this new approach of inviting tourists. The Secretary promised to support tourism projects in Bohol and made an initial pledge of P2.5 million for the preparation of the Bohol Tourism Master Plan. He said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants the completion of the Panglao International Airport before year 2010.

The Department of Tourism has reported that it had posted a remarkable growth of more than 25 percent in visitor arrivals in the country in 2004. The DOT said the increase in tourist arrivals attributed to the influx of inter-regional travelers from Asia, such as Japan, Korea, Hongkong, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Malaysia. - Jose P. Sollano