Bohol tourism reopens

LOBOC, BOHOL, Philippines  â€“ The famous river cruising on floating restaurants along the winding river of this interior town is now back to business amid trauma of devastation from the magnitude - 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol last Oct. 15.

Mayor Helen Alaba of this town, where  the centuries-old St. Peter Church edifice was razed to the ground by the quake, said Loboc rises up and the tourism industry in the province is vibrant again.

Tourism stakeholders, industry supporters and local and foreign tourists have started pouring in, especially during the reopening ceremonies of  the river cruising fare in Loboc.

Tourism regional director Rowena Montecillo and key resort and transport players in the industry also came in droves to support Alaba’s resolve in restoring tourism activity in town, with the “maiden” voyage of   the floating restaurants in this famous river.

Resort and hotel operators or owners, who flocked to the floating restos, added that Bohol beaches, dive and other sea-based activities are still active because these were not badly affected by the quake, according to Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan, a resort owner in Panglao island.

Dumaluan admitted that reservations to his resort were cancelled in the aftermath of the earthquake. He however urged everyone to be optimistic and make Bohol more fun again for the tourists and Boholanos.

David Bailie, also a resort operator in Panglao, told reporters at the river cruising reopening rites, that for every tourist coming to Bohol at least three jobs are created. Bohol has been banking on domestic tourists, which consists about 60 percent of the total number of visitors.

Alaba said that she will implement a “torno-torno” scheme, among floating resto operators to regulate competition. She vowed that the reported “food poisoning” will never happen again considering that the new scheme will be stricter in food preparation and inspection.

Asked about the zipline, operated by the Loboc municipal government, Alaba said it will be operated again soon, explaining that she wanted to have its structural integrity assessed first by engineers before reopening it.

Jing Velasco, for his part, has opened up the doors to tourists to his newly mounted viewing deck of  the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP) in Brgy. Buenos Aires of Carmen  town.

In response, local and domestic tourists came in droves after the national highway became accessible by  the hurried clearing of  landslides and debris along the route.

The viewing deck of the Chocolate Hills Complex, which was managed by the Carmen LGU, however remained closed to visitors after it was destroyed by the earthquake. 

Meanwhile, the Tarsier Sanctuary at Barangay Candabong in Corella town, that was also a top draw for tourists, has reopened also. (FREEMAN)