tourism master plan in bohol

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Philippines’ Bohol gets a new mixed-use tourism development

A 25 billion pesos (US$545 million), 50-hectare mixed-use development that marks sustainability, community and local culture as its guiding principles is taking shape in Panglao, Bohol.

Named Panglao Shores, Bohol’s first and biggest township will feature at least three hotels with 1,000 keys on a kilometre strip of white beach; 1,000 condominium and residential units; 37,000m² of indoor and outdoor retail and commercial areas; as well as medical facilities and vast greenbelt areas, said CEO Hope Marie Uy at the recent media launch.

Developed by the Alturas Group of Companies, owned by the Uy family, the first phase of the 10-year project includes the commercial strip and the ongoing construction of 188-key South Palms Resort to be managed by a foreign hotel management company when it opens early next year. The latter is an expansion of the existing 78-key South Palms Resort.

Uy also added that the addition of a mid-range hotel with around 300 keys and function venues for up to 1,000 people would fill the need for a larger business events facility in Bohol. There will also be a luxury resort with villas and exclusive areas.

Panglao Shores will not be a cookie-cutter project, Uy shared, as the company has engaged environmental specialists from London, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines from the onset. The company will also ensure that the development will be a fully-integrated community that will flourish with sustainability, as inspired by the company’s existing South Farms which is focused on sustainability and the circular economy.

Project consultant Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks, said Panglao Shores is a “generational business” meant to be sustainable in all aspects, including water supply and electricity, coupled with a sense of place and connection to the land.

Buildings will be low density – maximum heights will be kept to four or five storeys – for ocean views, designed according to international eco-building standards and materials, and building materials and plants will be sourced locally. The architecture will also be guided by the principles of Filipino vernacular design, natural ventilation, and the use of locally-available materials such as limestone and repurposed wood, which is readily available in Bohol.

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Find out what Bohol's tourism bounce-back plan is all about

Tourism stakeholders in Bohol and the provincial government are set to unveil massive discounts for tourists and travelers planning to go to the island in a bid to revive the industry amid the pandemic.

In a virtual briefing about the "Balik sa Bohol: Bohol Online Sale" Wednesday, Feb. 10, Bohol Gov. Arthur C. Yap said the province has long been ready to welcome tourists back to its shores after months of travel restrictions.

"Despite what happened at the onset of COVID-19, despite all the worries and uncertainties last year, we knew that we will be finding our way to recover from this pandemic," Yap added.

Bluewater Resorts Vice President for Sales and Marketing Margie Munsayac said 13 resorts, one adventure park, and six tour operators will be taking part in the Bohol Online Sale, which is the first of its kind, from Feb. 21 to March 14.

Participating establishments will be offering as much as 70 percent discount in rooms, food, tours, and related services during the online sale organized by the private sector and fully supported by the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, and the Provincial Government of Bohol.

The participants include Amarela Resort, Amorita Resort, Be Grand Hotel, Bohol Bee Farm, The Bellevue Resort, Best Western Plus The Ivywall Panglao Resort, Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort, Bohol Beach Club, Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, The Acacia Glamping, Donatela Resort, and Sanctuary, Loboc River Resort, Mithi Resort and Spa, South Palms Resorts Panglao, Angels’ Wings Tours, and Travel, Baclayon Travel & Tours, Bohol Holidays Travel & Tours Inc., Coordinates Tours, and Travel, and Travel Village. 

Interested tourists can book through https// traveloco.ph/balikbohol  to avail of the sales promo.

Yap underscored that Bohol's health and safety protocols for tourists have also been modified and eased to encourage more travelers to visit the island.

According to Yap, tourists only have to present a "negative RT-PCR test result, with the swab taken within 72 hours to travel time; confirmed booking at a Department of Tourism (DoT)-accredited hotel, and must register at  http://tourism.bohol.gov.ph . For those going on tour, a confirmed tour booking through a DoT-accredited tour operator (is needed)."

A "bubble tourism" system was also devised in Bohol, which Yap said would allow tourists to visit attractions along the way even if municipalities are not officially open. Currently, Panglao Island and the municipality of Anda are the only areas officially open for domestic tourism.

The governor bared earlier this month that the province would begin accepting the more affordable saliva RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) test as a valid tourist requirement. 

Yap admitted that the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic has heavily impacted the local tourism sector, with revenue losses reaching up to P15 billion. Some 211,000 Boholanos have also been adversely affected.

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Vol. 10, No. 2, Carl Milos R. Bulilan

Contents>> Vol. 10, No. 2

From Governing to Selling Tourism: Changing Role of Local Government in the Tourism Development of Bohol, Philippines

Carl Milos R. Bulilan *

* Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines e-mail: cmbulilan[at]hnu.edu.ph

DOI: 10.20495/seas.10.2_273

Tourism is a major global industry. Governments in developing countries have developed tourism as a means for economic progress. The role of the government is crucial in making tourism beneficial for local people. The traditional functions of government involve crafting legislation and regulating tourist activities in local destinations. The business and marketing aspects of tourism are often entrusted to the private sector. Today, local governments are directly involved in the tourism business. The traditional functions of governments have expanded into managing and marketing touristic enterprises and forming partnerships with private and government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and host communities. This study aims to examine how local government units (LGUs) perform both political and entrepreneurial functions in tourism development. In particular, it explores the case of the province of Bohol—a model for tourism development in the Philippines. The Bohol LGU demonstrates how the local government can integrate governance, coordination, and doing business through tourism. This case study attempts to offer useful insights on formulating policies in local tourism development.

Keywords : governance, local tourism, tourism development, tourism business, public-private partnership, policy making, local politics

Introduction

Tourism has become one of the biggest global industries ( Hitchcock et al. 1993 ; McIntosh and Goeldner 1986 ; United Nations Steering Committee on Tourism for Development 2011 ; Vanhove 1997 ; UNWTO 2015 ). As a top worldwide export category, it has surpassed automotive products and food ( UNWTO 2017, 6 ). Tourism activities affect the economic, social, political, and environmental components of host countries and communities more than traditional industries do ( Crick 1989 ; Eadington and Smith 1992 ; Long 1992 ; Murphy 1985 ). Management plays a crucial role in the way tourism contributes to local economic, social, and environmental sustainability ( Edgell et al. 2008 ; Jamal and Getz 1995 ). Private businesses carry out the task of managing tourism and controlling the development of destinations. Multinational corporations operate hotels, resorts, tours, and transport services with minimal government intervention.

Entrepreneurial local government units (LGUs) have become a trend in the Philippines. Aser Javier (2002) argues that public entrepreneurship among LGUs has become a strategy to decentralize the political process. This new movement is contextualized within the Philippine Local Government Code of 1991, which empowers LGUs to engage actively in corporate activities to increase their local revenue contributions ( RA 7160) . This new trend raises important questions on the role of the government in tourism development ( Philippine Statistics Authority 2017 ). It raises the question of how LGUs can simultaneously carry out governance and do business. With their political advantage, are LGUs more effective than their private counterparts in managing tourism and delivering its benefits to communities?

Using the case of the tourism industry in Bohol, this study examines how LGUs perform both political and entrepreneurial functions in tourism development. First, this study examines how LGUs exercise their traditional political roles and leadership in developing tourism in the province. Second, it presents the municipality of Danao, Bohol, as a model of how traditional governance and doing business can work together in tourism. This study highlights how partnerships, collaborative actions, and leadership enable the growth of an inclusive tourism development.

This study employs qualitative case study methods. In gathering data, I used in-depth interviews with key informants and focus group discussions. Informants were selected through purposive sampling based on their knowledge of the topic and their authority regarding the issues at hand. Informants included provincial development and provincial tourism office heads, the municipal mayor, municipal development and tourism staff, local people, and tour operators. Gathering of data and fieldwork were conducted within a year. To triangulate data gathered from the interviews, I also used primary and secondary documents and literature. I gathered official documents from the provincial and municipal offices, including statistics, legislative papers, development plans, accounting and financial reports, and local narratives written by local people. Official data from government agencies were also analyzed.

I Overview of Tourism in Bohol

The province of Bohol lies in the Visayan archipelago in the Philippines. It is the 10th-largest island in the country, with a land area of 4,821 square kilometers. By January 2018, it had a population of 1,255,128 people scattered among its 47 municipalities and the city of Tagbilaran ( Philippine Statistics Authority 2018 ). From being one of the poorest provinces, Bohol has become a first-class province (income class) and one of the most dynamic in the country. From being a hotbed of political insurgency, it has become a leading tourist destination. Tourism has become one of the socioeconomic drivers in the province, with growing tourist arrivals and tourism-related businesses.

Bohol is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. With the economic benefits that accompany the arrival of visitors, tourism has become one of the biggest industries in the province. It is considered a means for alleviating poverty, generating employment, and developing social infrastructures.

The province’s tourist resources are based on its natural features, cultural practices, and heritage structures. Its natural features include white beaches, marine life, forests, animals, waterfalls and rivers, hills and mountains, caves, and “adventure parks.” Musical performances and native dances, religious and historical festivals, and local handicrafts comprise its cultural attractions. Closely connected with Boholano culture and history are the province’s heritage structures.

This section provides a general background of Bohol tourism. First, it presents a statistical overview of the touristic movement. Second, it examines both nature- and culture-based tourist resources in the province. Finally, it surveys Bohol’s public and private facilities that make travel convenient and safe. This overview demonstrates how the local habitat, history, heritage, and hospitality have become the main resources for tourism and how government support facilitates the growth of the industry.

I-1 Tourist Arrivals

The number of tourists continues to grow in Bohol. According to a report shared by the Bohol Tourism Office (BTO) from the Department of Tourism Region VII (2016) , in November 2016 there were 820,640 tourist arrivals in the province. This number was 36.26 percent higher than the year before, with an average annual growth of 28.5 percent over the past three years. After the great Bohol earthquake in 2013, tourists continued to visit despite fears of another earthquake and the damage to infrastructure and tourism facilities.

Tourists in Bohol are both local and foreign. In 2016 the BTO identified 585,316 (71.32 percent of the total number of tourists that year) as local tourists, 233,736 (28.48 percent) as foreign nationals, and 1,588 (0.19 percent) as overseas Filipinos. Among the foreign tourists, the largest number came from China (59,289), followed by Korea (39,229), the United States (20,317), and France (11,690). A significant number of tourists came also from Japan, Germany, and Taiwan. The BTO and the Department of Tourism (DOT) projected 1,226,574 tourists in the province in 2012 and the operation of the new airport in Panglao Island by 2018. Airlines began operating at the airport in 2019, with flights being limited to domestic destinations for the moment. Tagbilaran Airport was closed when Bohol-Panglao International Airport began to operate.

Among the tourist destinations in Bohol, Panglao Island had the largest number of visitors. From January to November 2016, a total of 366,174 tourists visited the island municipality. The provincial capital, Tagbilaran City, had 105,885 visitors, followed by Dauis, which had 25,914. Since most of the tourist facilities (such as the airport and pier) and tourist accommodations (such as hotels and resorts) are in these areas, it is not surprising that the largest numbers of tourists are found in these municipalities. Tourists visit destinations in other municipalities for sightseeing and other activities, without staying there overnight.

I-2 Touristic Products and Activities

Nature-Based Tourism

The natural environment is one of the main features of the tourism industry ( Fennell 2008 ; Holden 2008 ; Hunter and Green 1995 ; Krippendorf 1982 ). It is “crucial to the attractiveness of almost all travel destinations and recreation areas . . . provide an important ‘backdrop’ to commercial service areas and recreation sites, or at least contribute to all tourist locations” ( Farrell and Runyan 1991, 26 ). “Nature-based tourism” refers to

tourism in natural settings (e.g., adventure tourism), tourism that focuses on specific elements of the natural environment (e.g., safari and wildlife tourism, nature tourism, marine tourism), and tourism that is developed in order to conserve or protect natural areas (e.g., ecotourism, national parks). ( Hall and Boyd 2005, 3 )

The Bohol provincial government has enumerated the natural assets that have been developed as tourist attractions (see Table 1 ).

Table 1 Nature-Based Tourism Resources in Bohol

Source: Based on data from Province of Bohol and German Development Service (2010, 7).

One advantage of traveling around Bohol is the close proximity of tourist sites. For example, in one day tourists can visit the Chocolate Hills, Man-made Forest, Loboc River, Panglao beaches, Hinagdanan Cave, and Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape (as a side trip). These spots are accessible through a well-cemented/asphalt 120-kilometer national highway. Located in the mid-southwestern part of the province, the Tarsier Sanctuary and Mag-Aso Falls in the towns of Corella and Antequera can be covered in a single trip. The Abatan River and mangrove plantations in the towns of Cortes and Maribojoc are two neighboring areas.

White beaches in the town of Anda and the mangrove plantation in the town of Candijay lie in the eastern part of Bohol. The islands of Pamilacan and Balicasag are located 15 kilometers from each other on the Bohol Sea and are accessible by boat from Panglao and Baclayon ports. However, lying in the Cebu Strait, north of Bohol, Banacon Island’s mangrove forest is a little farther from the rest of Bohol’s tourist attractions.

Culture-Based Tourism

Culture is “a deeply embedded aspect of tourism” ( George et al. 2009, 5 ). Traditional practices and customs of host communities have become tourist attractions. In Bohol, cultural traditions are evident in their physical and intangible forms. Physical and artistic expressions include old religious buildings, Spanish structures, ancestral houses, music, traditional dances, religious and historical festivals, handicrafts, and delicacies. Aside from these manifestations, Boholanos are known for their tradition of hospitality and friendliness toward visitors. The provincial government of Bohol enumerates specific cultural and historical assets that are of touristic value (see Table 2 ).

Table 2 Culture-Based Tourism Resources in Bohol

Source: Based on data from Province of Bohol and German Development Service (2010, 7) .

Old Spanish-period structures are included in tourist routes. These include stone churches dating back to the early Spanish colonization of Bohol. Almost each of the province’s 47 municipalities has its own old church strategically built within the town center plaza, where the municipal government building is also located. These church buildings with bell towers mostly have baroque designs made of coral brick and hardwood.

Some of Bohol’s heritage structures were destroyed by fire or natural disasters. The great Bohol earthquake of 2013 destroyed many historic buildings, including the churches of Loon and Loboc towns. Some have been totally restored or are undergoing restoration. Modern reconstruction also caused the degradation of some of these churches. Other heritage structures include ancient watchtowers and century-old houses that tourists can visit.

Aside from ancient buildings, Bohol is known also for its musical traditions. Talented Boholanos have caught the attention of tourists and international musicians. One of the best-known musical groups in the province is the Loboc Children’s Choir. The choir is composed of elementary and high school students from the town of Loboc carefully selected by their teachers. The group has won several international competitions, including first place at the “Europe and Its Songs” international choir festival in Barcelona in 2003 and first place at the Concorso Internazionale Di Canto Corale “Seghizzi” held in Italy in 2017. Tourists can experience Boholano musicality on a Loboc river cruise, which culminates with musical presentations.

Another occasion on which tourists can experience Boholano cultural creativity is during the monthlong Sandugo festival held every July in Tagbilaran City. The celebration commemorates the blood compact between the Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and the native Rajah Sikatuna in 1565 marking the historic peace pact and the opening of the province to the world. The celebration starts on July 1 and wraps up with a street dancing competition on the third or fourth Sunday of the month. This is the major tourist attraction of the city of Tagbilaran.

Bohol is known for its religious festivals and parades, especially its grand fiesta celebrations. Dating back to the Spanish period, pista is a community (town, barangay , sitio ) celebration of thanksgiving in honor of the local patron saint. Cultural presentations are held for at least two days. Families prepare food not only for their relatives and friends but for anybody who comes into their homes. Food is offered all day. During the pista season (especially in the month of May) tourists can experience a festive atmosphere while witnessing traditional dances and musical presentations, often in public places.

Bohol’s traditional handicrafts are produced for touristic consumption as well as for export. Products of loom weaving in the towns of Tubigon, Inabanga, Albur, and Buenavista, basket weaving in Antequera, and pottery making in Albur and Calape can be purchased in souvenir shops in tourist destinations as well as city malls. Tourists can also taste and take home traditional Boholano sweets, including calamay (made of glutinous rice powder, coconut milk, brown sugar, and peanuts) from Albur and Jagna, and peanut kisses and other locally baked pastries.

I-3 Tourist Facilities and Services

By Air, by Sea, and by Land

The island of Bohol can be reached by either airplane or boat. Bohol has one airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport. The airport project was sponsored by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. At present, there are seven direct flights connecting Bohol and Manila. Three main airline companies offer services on this route: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and AirAsia. The one-way fare is around PHP3,500 (around US$67). On June 22, 2017, direct international flights began between Seoul-Incheon and Tagbilaran Airport.

An alternative way of getting to Bohol is by ship. There are at least four major seaports in Bohol: Tagbilaran, Tubigon, Jagna, and Ubay. There is no direct sea route between Manila and Tagbilaran. However, since air travel is inexpensive and more convenient than sea travel, people prefer to take a flight from Manila. From Cebu, it is most convenient to sail into the ports of Tubigon and Tagbilaran because of their proximity and the frequency of ferries. On the Cebu–Tagbilaran route, slow ferries cost around PHP210 (US$4) and fast ferries around PHP350 (US$7). The Cebu–Tubigon route is shorter and cheaper. Pump boats also ply between Cebu and the towns of Getafe and Inabanga. Traveling within Bohol is not a problem. Public land transportation is affordable. This includes open-air buses, air-conditioned vans, jeepneys, cabs, tricycles, and habal-habal (transport motorbikes). Tourists can also rent cars and motorcycles.

Accommodations and Other Services

Bohol has luxury hotels and resorts, tourist inns, pension houses, travel lodges, and homestays. In 2015 (the latest year for which data is available), the Bohol Tourism Office counted 360 accommodation establishments in the province, with a total of 6,370 rooms ( Province of Bohol 2015, 24 ). This number is far higher than the 2,000 rooms counted in 2010 ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 8 ). These accommodations are spread throughout the province, especially in Tagbilaran City, Panglao Island, and Baclayon. With its fine white beaches and proximity to the capital city, Panglao Island has the greatest number of resorts and spas, including a five-star hotel and exclusive resorts.

There are 15 BTO-accredited local travel agencies in Bohol. For those who like shopping, Bohol has shopping malls and department stores. The three main shopping malls are Bohol Quality Mall, Island City Mall, and Alturas Malls. Withdrawing cash is convenient, with 49 banking units and ATMs scattered around the city and municipalities ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 8 ). Communications are convenient, with telecommunications companies providing mobile and Internet services.

II Governing Bohol Tourism

As mentioned earlier, tourism is a major industry in Bohol. Concerned with reducing the province’s poverty incidence, the provincial government considers tourism as one of the means to achieve economic growth. Adopting the concepts and strategies of pro-poor tourism, local government officials and planners look to tourism to uplift the socioeconomic condition of poor local communities through employment, sharing of income, and growth of local entrepreneurship while at the same time conserving the province’s natural resources ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 1 ). To achieve these goals, it is crucial for the local government to build institutions and craft legislation.

II-1 Institutionalizing Tourism

Establishing institutions for nature-based tourism strengthened Bohol’s tourism development. With the aim of developing a general framework for tourism development, a memorandum of agreement was signed between the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation and the provincial government of Bohol in 2005. Through the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO), and the BTO, preparatory steps were taken for the formulation of the Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan of Bohol as mandated under the Bohol Environment Code of 1998.

The partnership project involved national agencies, particularly the DOT and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). European development agencies assisted by providing technical and financial support. These agencies included the German Development Service (DED) and Soil and Water Conservation Foundation (SWCF) for technical support; InWEnt for financial assistance; and the UNDP-GEF-SGF Program and the European Union, both through SWCF ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 2 ).

To provide technical assistance during the formulation of the tourism framework plan, the provincial government of Bohol established a multi-sectoral Ecotourism Technical Working Group. This was composed of regional and provincial government agencies—such as the DENR, DOT, BEMO, PPDO, and BTO—and nongovernmental organizations. Organizers provided modular training for LGUs, NGOs, local communities, academe, and the private sector from March to November 2005. The training focused on topics such as ecotourism and biodiversity, ecotourism product development, marketing and promotion, and monitoring and evaluation ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 3 ).

The workshop produced the Bohol Ecotourism Club, composed of representatives from local governments, NGOs, local communities, and the private sector. Serving as a “prime mover” and “watchdog” for ecotourism activities in the province, the body ensures the inclusion and implementation of ecotourism principles in municipal tourism development projects. It also seeks to educate the public on ecotourism and to recommend acceptable ethical standards on tourism development projects in Bohol. One of the organization’s roles is to be a “communities’ mentor” to guide people to see alternative income-earning opportunities through tourism ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 3 ).

The project came to be known as the Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan of Bohol 2006–2015. It served as a bible for investors, people in the tourism business sector, municipal executives, planners, and NGOs in the province for their tourism development and biodiversity conservation projects. Guidelines included principles, regulations, standards, best practices, and ethics for tourism activities that the government considered to be in line with its vision.

Specialized agencies composed of national, provincial, and local government units, NGOs, and organizations from the private sector are in place to promote and facilitate the development of tourism in the province. One is the Provincial Tourism Council. The council was originally composed of more than 50 members—60 percent from the private sector and 40 percent from the government. Before this body was created, a Committee on Tourism was an integral part of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council). During that time there was an independent Provincial Investment Office, which had a section for the tourism sector until 1997.

Intending to run for mayor, the Committee on Tourism chairperson of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan decided to turn over the responsibilities of the committee to the Provincial Investment Office. In 2007 the tourism section of the investment office became a separate provincial government entity. This was when the tourism industry started to grow, and the former office was no longer adequate to accommodate the growing needs of the industry. Now, the Bohol Tourism Office (formerly the Provincial Tourism Office) functions as the secretariat of the Provincial Tourism Council.

Since all tourist sites are under the administration of LGUs, the provincial government cannot develop tourist attractions on its own. However, it oversees the overall tourism development activities in the province and provides for the needs of LGUs. The BTO has become the advice-giving and coordinating body of the province for tourism development. The BTO has specific responsibilities. First, it helps LGUs and the private sector in developing their own tourist sites. It also orients planners regarding policies and other issues concerning tourism in the province. It accepts tourism project proposals from LGUs and provides advice and suggestions concerning the viability and marketability of such projects. Second, being the marketing arm of the provincial government, the office employs forms of communication such as posters, brochures, and videos to promote Bohol tourism to the world. Seeing the potential of proposed tourism projects, the office also provides clients for local tourism businesses.

Third, the BTO organizes basic skills training for tourism and hospitality services. In coordination with other government agencies, such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the office organizes seminars and workshops for LGUs, community organizations, and other tourism practitioners to enhance their services. Training includes basic culinary arts, customer service, tourist guiding, and operation of cottages and accommodations. The office also coordinates closely with other government agencies like the DOT for professional and financial resources, especially in organizing seminars, and the DENR on issues concerning protected areas that are now being utilized as tourist attractions.

The Provincial Tourism Council and the BTO have limited power. Although these institutions are under the Office of the Provincial Governor, they cannot take decisions regarding implementation of policies, nor can they regulate tourist activities. Officers are elected, but members meet regularly only twice a year. Core group members meet regularly, and in special cases they discuss pressing issues.

Another government agency that is involved in the province’s tourism industry is the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) under the DENR. The body is composed of barangay captains (village chiefs) and municipal mayors of localities enclosed within protected areas. One-fourth of the entire island of Bohol (75,766 hectares) consists of protected areas ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 11–12 ). Many of these have become tourist sites, including the Chocolate Hills, Man-made Forest in Bilar, Loboc Watershed, Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, and 15 marine sanctuaries within the seas of Panglao, Dauis, and Baclayon.

As the governing body for deciding on matters related to policy and the administration of protected areas, the PAMB reviews project proposals and tourist activities to check that they comply with the set standards for ecological conservation. The body also decides on budget allocations ( Province of Bohol and German Development Service 2010, 15 ). Coordinating closely with the BTO, the PAMB discusses with development planners on issues related to developing tourist sites in protected natural environments.

II-2 Enacting Tourism

Aside from institutionalizing tourism, the Bohol provincial government also enacts policies and environmental ordinances for tourism development. This legislation aims to ensure the protection of natural and cultural resources in order to help the tourism industry. Such ordinances are put in place in response to national legislations (e.g., Protected Areas System in the Philippines [ RA 7586 or NIPAS Act of 1992]) that promote ecological conservation and ecotourism. Bohol pioneered a provincial legislation, the Bohol Environmental Code of 1998, to protect the natural environment, which has become a major component of its tourism industry. This code has become a model for other local governments in the country.

In 2007 the Act to Declare the Province of Bohol as an Eco-cultural Tourism Zone ( RA 9446 ) was promulgated. This law mandates the DOT, the provincial government, and the city of Tagbilaran to coordinate closely in developing and promoting tourism in the province. Coordination involves formulating development plans, protecting natural and cultural resources, consolidating political powers, providing technical and material assistance, and partnering with private and nongovernmental agencies. The law produced the Bohol Tourism Master Plan, which “would be a unified direction of the province to further harness and sustain its vast tourism potential” ( Province of Bohol 2007, 1 ). This law was further strengthened by the promulgation of the Tourism Act of 2009 ( RA 9593 ).

Since 1995 there have been at least 165 provincial ordinances, resolutions, and policies related to tourism development. Many of these concern coordination among different LGUs, particularly with municipal mayors, NGOs, and private agencies. These ordinances urge and encourage partnerships among stakeholders in developing and governing tourist activities. In 2017 the province prepared the Bohol Surprise Tours program, which highlighted 12 new local ecotourism destinations. This program showcases the livelihood activities of host communities as tourist sites. The same year, the province—along with the DOT, the United States Agency for International Development, and private sector representatives—launched the province’s new branding: “Behold Bohol.” This branding aimed to project the revival of Bohol after the 2013 earthquake.

Developing Bohol tourism is a collaborative effort between the provincial government and municipalities. Through the BTO, the provincial government provides municipalities with technical assistance. Technical support includes training of local tourism officers and staff, advertising and packaging of products, and mapping of possible tourism resources. The provincial government also helps in constructing roads leading to tourist destinations. Though the provincial governor heads the entire province, the municipal mayors still have the power to decide the direction of local tourism development. In this sense, the municipalities have greater influence than the provincial government. However, the provincial government provides the general framework and legislative mechanisms to encourage the growth of tourism in municipalities.

After the implementation of the Bohol Tourism Master Plan, LGUs at the municipal level started to develop their own tourism programs and activities. Since LGUs administer most of the tourist sites, they have control over these areas in terms of management. LGUs either coordinate with private agencies to provide environments conducive to tourism, or they develop and manage touristic enterprises by themselves.

Loboc municipality provides an example of collaborative tourism. The town is known for its river cruise. The tourism project is a product of a partnership among the LGU, donor agencies, private investors, and local community organizations. The LGU provided the necessary facilities around the tourism complex, including building the river port for boats and floating restaurants, developing the tourism office and terminal, and providing access and a huge parking area. Private businesses manage the cruise, the shops, and the floating restaurants. Local community organizations participate through musical and cultural performances held along the riverside. Foreign government donors sponsor the lighting in the river’s vicinity.

The Abatan river tour is an example of an exclusively LGU-managed tourism enterprise. The project involves the four neighboring municipalities of Cortes, Maribojoc, Balilihan, and Catigbian. The tour features a cruise through the mangrove forest along the river connecting these municipalities. It includes a visit to waterfalls and local villages, and cultural presentations at the Tourism Center. The coastal municipalities of Panglao, Dauis, and Baclayon have also initiated a similar partnership, called Padayon. The three towns are located within the Bohol Marine Triangle, where there are five major marine ecosystems (see Green et al. 2002, 48 ). This collaborative project aims at environmental preservation for tourism development.

II-3 Tourism Leadership

Leadership plays an important role in the growth of tourism. The tourism industry of Bohol would not be possible without the leadership of local politicians. Prominent local figures helped bring Bohol tourism to where it is now. The three main personalities were Rene Relampagos, Erico Aumentado, and Edgardo Chatto. With political will and shared vision, these leaders were able to continue what their predecessors had started, despite their differences in political affiliation.

The laying of the groundwork for tourism development in Bohol can be attributed to Relampagos. He has served as a Provincial Board member (1989–92), vice governor (1992–95; 2019–), governor (1995–2001), and member of the House of Representatives (2010–19). During Relampagos’s term as governor, the Bohol Environmental Code ( Province of Bohol 1998 ) was promulgated, which created the BEMO. The code is considered to be the first of its kind in the Philippines and became a model for other provinces in the country. This legislation became the ground on which tourism policies and guidelines sprouted.

During Relampagos’s term as governor, concerns over environmental protection and management were brought to the fore. These gained primary importance in policy making and in formulating development programs for the province. Care for the environment became the starting point for Bohol to engage in ecotourism as a model for tourism development. During Relampagos’s term, the province collaborated with various international and national government agencies, NGOs, and local communities.

What Relampagos prepared, Aumentado cultivated. Aumentado defeated Relampagos in the 2001 gubernatorial race. He started as a member of the Provincial Board (1967–86), then became the vice governor (1988–92), a congressman (1992–2001; 2010–12), and the governor of Bohol (2001–10). In 2001 Bohol was considered one of the poorest provinces in the country. Aumentado saw the potential in tourism as a means of poverty reduction. During his term he placed Bohol on the tourism map, and eventually the province emerged as one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

Aumentado continued what his predecessor had started, establishing ties and crafting development plans. Through collaborative work among local and national government agencies and NGOs, Aumentado’s administration produced the Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan of Bohol 2006–2015. The plan came about as a response to Executive Order No. 111 (EO 111) ( Estrada 1999 ), which laid the guidelines for ecotourism in the country. The framework became the basis for development projects and activities in the province. During Aumentado’s administration the Bohol Arts and Heritage Code ( Province of Bohol 2008 ) was also promulgated. This code provided the legal basis for the promotion and development of culture-based tourism.

Aside from establishing legislative and institutional mechanisms, Aumentado improved the basic infrastructure of the province. He fixed the circumferential road (the Carlos P. Garcia Circumferential Road) and the minor roads connecting the municipalities, which made transport and access to tourist destinations faster and more convenient. Pacifying the Communist insurgency in Bohol was also considered a great achievement of the former governor. He died in December 2012.

A lawyer by profession, Chatto has served as a member of the Provincial Board (1980–86), mayor (1988–95), vice governor (1995–2001), congressman (2001–10; 2019–), and governor (2010–19). The greatest challenge Chatto faced as governor was the 2013 earthquake. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake left the province with a high number of casualties and heavily damaged roads, bridges, houses, and buildings. Tourist sites and cultural structures, including the Chocolate Hills complex and many of the century-old heritage churches, were heavily damaged.

Through the help of international agencies, Chatto was able to rehabilitate the province. The Behold Bohol project highlights how Bohol reemerged as a tourist destination after the tragic earthquake. During Chatto’s administration, Panglao-Bohol International Airport was also inaugurated. Though Chatto belongs to the opposition party, his support for the Duterte administration gives him a political advantage in pursuing his plans and projects.

III Selling Tourism: The Case of the Local Government of Danao

The town of Danao is in the central part of Bohol. It is located around 66 kilometers (the fastest route) northeast of Tagbilaran City and can be reached by car in around two hours. The town has 17 barangays and had a population of 17,890 in 2015, with 3,364 households. It has an average income of PHP90 million and in 2016 had an Internal Revenue Allocation amounting to around PHP75,526,524. The main source of livelihood in Danao is basic farming. With the LGU-run tourism development, Danao rose from being a sixth-class municipality in 1999 to a fourth-class municipality and ranks first in Bohol and the region in income generation efficiency.

III-1 From Insurgency to Hospitality

Before tourism was developed in Danao, the town was known for its political insurgencies and poverty. The province of Bohol was an insurgent hotbed from 2000 until it was declared insurgent free in March 2010 ( Torres 2011, 1 ). Several attacks and gunfights took place in the province, including raids of government and business centers that were related to insurgent groups. The extreme poverty in the area, especially in farming communities, formed a seedbed for ideology-based conflict. This was the experience of people for decades, although this phenomenon was not something new for Danao. Historically, the town was the headquarters of the group of Fernando Dagohoy, the leader of the longest revolution in Philippine history (1744–1829).

Danao was known also for its poor, malnourished, and low-educated population. In 2003 it was considered the poorest municipality of Bohol and one of the poorest in the country, with a score of 57.2 on the poverty index ( National Statistical Coordination Board 2009 ). Some people survived on small-scale traditional farming and charcoal making. Others moved away to work as domestic help and laborers, undermining family life. With these social and economic conditions, Danao became a pilot area for national government assistance. Government agencies started to introduce livelihood projects among the local people. However, local communities found the assistance insufficient, and the help made people more dependent on government support rather than motivating them to exert the effort to improve their livelihoods.

Today, the local government of Danao is noted for its tourism enterprises. The LGU-run tourism program came to be known as E.A.T. Danao (Eco, Educational, Extreme Adventure Tour). The program’s activities take place at Danao Adventure Park, around 7 kilometers from the town center. The landscape includes cliffs, caves, rivers, rock formations, and century-old trees. These natural features provide a unique venue for outdoor adventure activities, including trekking, kayaking, caving, cliff plunging, zip-lining, rappelling, and root climbing. Visitors can also enjoy the “Sea of Clouds,” a formation of fog and clouds suspended near the tops of neighboring mountains in the early morning.

Then Municipal Mayor Jose Cepedoza floated the idea of having a tourism enterprise in 2001. The idea was realized through his successor, Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga, and led to the opening of the park in 2006. Informants said that the concept of an adventure park came about after the mayor experienced AJ Hackett Bungy Jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand. The country offers several adventure activities, particularly on its mountainous terrain. The mayor shared the plan with his advisers and formed a team to conduct a feasibility study. After the death of Mayor Gonzaga in 2016, his mother, Natividad, took office and is continuing the project.

Danao Adventure Park is a product of collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders. The tourist activities started with caving and mountain trekking, until groups of tourists saw the potential of the place. River-based activities were added later. Danao LGU started to connect with adventure enthusiasts, government agencies, and tour businesses for support. Danao’s fame spread, and government agencies—including the DOT and DENR—came to acknowledge the potential of the park.

The DENR helped Danao with resource inventory. The DOT assisted the LGU with product development and marketing. The Department of Trade and Industry helped with the making of souvenir items, while the TESDA helped with the training of local personnel in tourist services. Tour businesses in Bohol and private individuals also helped. Tour agents, Web bloggers, and adventure enthusiasts assisted with the product test run, product development, and marketing. The World Bank and the Development Bank of the Philippines also assisted.

The development of Danao tourism is a result of local participation. Local people were involved in the planning and implementation of the project. During the initial stages, they worked together with private agencies and individuals. LGU employees and officials contributed extra hours of work without pay. Barangay officials encouraged their communities to do voluntary work. Civil society organizations helped on the ground without pay. Volunteers helped with clearing the areas where the adventure park would be established, landscaping, and marketing adventure tours. They also started to act as tour guides ( Jensen 2010 ). Local leaders learned through feedback from visitors and tourists how to improve the place and services. This spirit of cooperation led to a sense of community ownership among the local people.

III-2 Tourism Benefiting Local People

The main sources of income from tourism activities in Danao include revenues from individual entrance and parking, adventure activities, and accommodation services. At the time of this study, entrance fees were around PHP40 and parking fees PHP10–30. Adventure activities cost around PHP350 per person, aside from the more expensive “Plunge,” which costs PHP700. Danao Adventure Park has accommodations ranging from PHP600 to PHP1,000 per night. The park also offers adventure packages, which cost PHP1,500–3,500 per person and may include food and accommodations.

LGU-run tourism was able to contribute to the economic and social well-being of the local people. It took two years for Danao to profit from its LGU-run tourism industry. Based on municipal records provided by the Danao LGU, in 2009 Danao had an income of around PHP4.8 million from tourism-related enterprises. The figure grew to PHP21.25 million in 2012. In 2010 the LGU started to give back to the local people what had been gained through their cooperation. However, after the great earthquake hit Bohol in October 2013, Danao experienced a decrease in income due to the low number of tourists. The LGU also had to spend huge amounts on repairing tourist facilities. In 2014 the number of tourists plunged to 7,261 from 25,531 the preceding year. Danao is slowly regaining its visitors. From January to October 2017, there were 23,042 tourist arrivals.

Tourism has provided alternative means of livelihood and social services for the community. Benefits from tourism come in the form of livelihoods, employment, and social services. Social services include scholarship programs, subsidized hospitalization programs, free use of ambulances, supplemental feeding, and health insurance programs. Danao Adventure Park employed 13 local guides in 2006. The number grew to 35 in 2008 and continued to increase to 45 in 2009. Today, local tourism directly employs more than 100 local people as tour guides, accommodation and food service staff, and maintenance and support personnel. Other local people who are earning an income from tourism are the People’s Organizations, which provide food to the LGU-run restaurant and sell souvenir items to visitors. In the area of education, the LGU started the Iskolar sa Torismo (Scholars of tourism) program in 2011. At the time of this study, 83 college students were receiving scholarships in various state colleges and universities in the province. The scholarship program has produced 12 graduates since its inception.

Most of the benefits from tourism go toward health services. The subsidized hospitalization program helps poor patients with their medical fees. From 2011 until the time of this study, 221 people had benefited from the program. The subsidy for the health insurance program had benefited around 4,000 people. The LGU’s free ambulance service has been supported by revenues from tourism activities since 2011. However, the supplemental feeding program for preschoolers ran for only a year.

Aside from the economic and social benefits, tourism has created environmental awareness among local people. People have started to participate in ecological preservation activities. They have stopped cutting trees for their former livelihood of charcoal making. In a personal interview, Mayor Natividad Gonzaga argued that aside from the material benefits gained from tourism, the most valuable outcome was the regaining of pride among the people of Danao. She emphasized that tourism had brought back pride to the place, and the municipality had evolved from being identified as backward and poor to attracting people from around the world with its natural and cultural wonders.

This study examines the changing role of governments in tourism development. Governments play a crucial role in the development of the tourism industry. Local governments have evolved from being passive to more active actors in the industry. From merely providing laws and building infrastructure, governments now manage their own tourism-related businesses. In past decades, the management of tourism was entrusted to the business sector. Multinational corporations and private businesses controlled the operation of resorts, hotels, and other tourist services with minimal intervention from the government. Now, LGUs are competing with private operators.

Entrepreneurial LGUs are a new phenomenon. From governing tourism, LGUs are now also selling tourism. Aside from tax revenues, local governments are gaining additional income from their self-managed tourism businesses, and at the same time they provide employment to local people. This new trend challenges the traditional role of governments in tourism development. It raises questions over how LGUs can carry out governance as well as do business at the same time. With their political advantage, are LGUs more effective than their private counterparts in managing tourism and delivering its benefits to communities?

To illustrate this new phenomenon, this study highlights the case of the tourism industry in the province of Bohol in the Philippines. It examines how LGUs in Bohol can perform both political and corporate functions in tourism. First, the study explores how the provincial government lays the foundation for the development of tourism in its local destinations. Second, this study examines the case of the municipality of Danao as a model for how a once-poor town could grow to become an LGU. With Danao’s natural beauty, its culture, and the cooperation of the local people, the LGU of Danao was able to harness the economic, social, and environmental benefits of tourism.

Bohol has evolved from being a poor to a high-income-generating province with the growth of local tourism. Tourism development has also become a tool to address the problem of political insurgency, which affected people of the province for decades. The province has become one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Its natural beauty and colorful cultures have attracted both domestic and international tourists. Despite the disruption brought about by the great earthquake of 2013, the number of tourist arrivals continued to grow through the years.

The provincial government set the ground for tourism to grow in Bohol. It institutionalized tourism by organizing collective action among various government units, nongovernmental agencies, and local people. Collaboration among stakeholders created political mechanisms that governed tourism and at the same time encouraged LGUs to engage in tourism development projects. Aside from governing tourism, multi-sectoral institutions enable local executives and their communities to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills to manage and operate tourism-related businesses. Tourism has become embedded into local governance.

Aside from institutionalizing tourism, the provincial government of Bohol has provided legislative mechanisms that directly impact tourism. Bohol pioneered a tourism code for regulating tourism development. This code has become a model for other LGUs in the country. Enacting tourism provides a solid legal basis for regulating tourist activities and development. The Bohol tourism code has become a framework for the provincial tourism development plan.

Institutional and legislative mechanisms could not have been efficient without the leadership of Bohol’s local executive. This study highlights the crucial role of three local politicians in the growth of tourism: Relampagos, Aumentado, and Chatto. With their political will and openness to collaboration with other agencies, they were able to put Bohol on the global tourism map.

The municipality of Danao illustrates how an LGU is able to carry out governance as well as do business. From being a poor town, Danao has evolved into a top income-generating municipality in the region. From being a hotbed of insurgency, it is now a top adventure tourism destination in the province. Danao tourism development is a result of leadership and collective action. Collaboration among stakeholders has transformed the once-sleepy town into an ecotourism playground. The LGU, with its political advantage, built its own tourism business through collaboration with different government agencies, NGOs, businesses, and private individuals. This collaboration facilitated the planning, marketing, and operation of tourist services. Thanks to government-run tourism businesses, local people are now participating in and enjoying the rewards of the industry.

Close collaboration enabled the development of tourism in Bohol. The growth of the industry would not have been possible without collaboration among the provincial government, municipalities, and private sector. Although this collaboration was challenged by issues of power relations, particularly between the provincial and municipal agencies, these issues were addressed through constant communication among leaders. Legislative and technical assistance from the provincial government is crucial since it enables municipal governments to engage in the industry. Municipal leadership is crucial in encouraging communities to participate in the tourism industry. The provincial government provides the face of Bohol tourism to the world, while municipal governments provide the actual experience.

This study has mainly explored the wider view of tourism in Bohol. A grassroots-level study of the experiences of local households with the growth of tourism in their localities would be relevant. Examining the political and moral economy of local tourism development would also generate insights into the dynamics of local tourism development.

Accepted: December 15, 2020

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Today’s front page, Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Bohol, Palawan ink ecotourism, development exchange program

• Charles R. Pepito
• February 28, 2017
• 3 minute read

T HE provinces of Bohol and Palawan are sharing best practices through a partnership to advance ecotourism and development in the two prime Philippine destinations.

Bohol Gov. Edgar M. Chatto and Palawan Gov. Jose C. Alvarez formalized the partnership dubbed the Bohol-Palawan/Puerto Princesa Tourism and Environmental Programs and Development Policy Exchange, with the linkage slogan “We grow together”.

Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II and Puerto Princesa City Mayor Luisito Bayron, at the same time, forged a city sisterhood.

The United States Agency for International Development-Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (USAID-SURGE) facilitated the exchange program.

The program strengthens sustainable tourism and policies on environmental preservation amid the growth and development of the partner-provinces and -cities.

Nature conservation in Palawan is considered a Philippine benchmark that can enrich and enhance Bohol’s own innovations and practices for sustainable, enduring ecotourism.

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) -Bohol Chapter is also a party to the partnership.

Chatto said policy-development exchange is essential because the partnership engages local government units (LGUs).

Bohol and Palawan also have these in common: Both have island towns, three congressional districts and one city, which is also the provincial capital. “We share and develop policies during the exchange and policy-development exchange has positive long-term implications that will make the program more substantial,” Chatto said.

Host officials themselves took turns in sharing best practices not just on tourism and environment, but also on agriculture, culture and arts.

The continuing pursuit of sustainable development and excellent governance, through the exchange program, has tied Bohol and Palawan.

A guided tour, coordinated by the provincial and city tourism officers, brought the Bohol group to the different known Palawan program sites and environs.

A fitting “prelude” to the formalizing of the partnership with Palawan, the Bohol tagline “Behold Bohol” was officially launched in Metro Manila.

The catchphrase is Bohol’s newest branding as a premier tourist destination in the country with the support of provincial government’s partners AirAsia Philippines, Department of Tourism (DOT) and USAID.

Through its Compete Project, USAID assisted in Bohol’s rehabilitation from the great earthquake, particularly in the formulation of the tourism recovery master plan.

The governor himself led the Bohol stakeholders in attending the launch, which gathered the officials of AirAsia, the DOT and USAID.

Also gracing the event, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Director General Ernesto M. Pernia said an earlier Panglao airport completion, which he believed is doable, is much better for Bohol.

DOT Undersecretary Alma Rita Jimenez said she was “amazed by the progressive increase” in the number of Bohol tourists despite the merciless earthquake’s impact. She said Bohol, as one of the Philippine destination icons, has simply been validated, again.

The launch was also attended by Rep. Rene L. Relampagos of the First District of Bohol, former House tourism committee chairman; Rep. Arthur C. Yap of the Third District of Bohol, House economic enterprise committee chairman; and Ebb Hinchliffe, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

Organized Boholanos in Metro Manila joined in the affair, which further had Provincial Tourism Council Chairman lawyer Lucas Nunag Jr. and Bohol Tourism Office people, plus travel agents and the national media.

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Bohol Set to Surpass 1 Million Tourist Arrivals by Year’s End

In a successful State of the Province Address (SOPA) speech at the Bohol Cultural Center on July 22, 2023, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado outlined the province’s promising tourism agenda, poised to drive sustainable growth and innovation in the sector. Bohol, focusing on rebranding and master planning, is all set to redefine its tourism management practices, promising a brighter future for the province.

Governor Aumentado ‘s State of the Province Address unveiled a roadmap for a bright and promising future for Bohol’s tourism industry.

After facing challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette, the province received heartening news with the “Revenge Travel” trend, witnessing a staggering 198% increase in tourist arrivals from 2021 to 2022. The tourism industry projects Bohol’s tourist arrivals to reach the one-million mark by the end of the year, showcasing the destination’s resilience and allure. In 2022 alone, tourism businesses and stakeholders earned an estimated P7.3 Billion; for 2023, as of May 31, they have already reached an estimated P3.8 Billion.

Governor Aumentado also shared exciting developments in air connectivity, underscoring the province’s increasing prominence as a tourism hub. Air Busan has made a grand entrance with new international flights, and Asiana Air’s maiden flight from Incheon, South Korea, to Panglao on July 20 marked a significant milestone. On July 25, Royal Air Philippines will launch its flights from Kunming City, China, to Panglao, further expanding Bohol’s accessibility to major destinations.

Bohol’s UNESCO Global Geopark Status has created a Tourism Development Program, highlighting the province’s 17 Geosites. These picturesque locales promise to captivate travelers seeking unique experiences immersed in natural wonders.

Looking forward, Bohol is crafting new Tourism Circuits to cater to various interests. These circuits offer diverse and engaging experiences, from the Farm, Fork, Fitness Tour to Outdoor Adventure Trails, UNESCO Geotrail, and Motorbike Loops.

A forthcoming program, the Transforming Communities Towards Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Tourism (ToURIST) Program, backed by the Department of Tourism and funded by the World Bank, signals a commitment to prioritize the well-being of Boholano constituents while nurturing a thriving tourism industry. The province aims to ensure that its tourism practices are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient, enhancing the lives of locals and visitors.

Governor Aumentado emphasized Bohol’s active presence in marketing and promotion efforts through participation in the tour and travel expos and international ecotourism travel marts and forums. This strategy elevates Bohol’s profile on the global stage, drawing in travelers from all corners of the world.

Fueled by a love for an active and athletic lifestyle, Bohol aspires to embrace Sports Tourism, showcasing its capacity to host significant events like the 5150 Triathlon, which saw over 600 triathletes gather in the province.

Bohol remains dedicated to maintaining its reputation for professional tourism. Providing Tourism Assistance at critical locations, such as the Escuela de las Niñas and Bohol International Airport, reinforces the province’s commitment to providing visitors with a seamless and enriching experience.

As Governor Aumentado delivered his inspiring address, he reminded everyone of Bohol’s unique identity and heritage, captured in the brand of “Bol-anong pang-gobyerno para sa mga Bol-anon.” 

The province proudly celebrates its culture and traditions through various events, such as the annual Sandugo Festival, showcasing its musical and performing arts groups like the Loboc Children’s Choir and Alicia Pangkat Kawayan. The recent grand coronation night of Miss Bohol 2023 has garnered widespread acclaim, solidifying the province’s reputation for delivering impressive productions. And Bohol fosters a thriving arts and literature scene with events like the “Bahal, Balut ug Balak” poetry night and art exhibits, reinforcing its support for creativity and artistic endeavors.

Governor Aumentado ‘s State of the Province Address unveiled a roadmap for a bright and promising future for Bohol’s tourism industry. With its innovative initiatives, deep commitment to sustainability, and rich cultural heritage, they are poised to soar as a world-class destination for travelers seeking unforgettable experiences. As the province embraces new possibilities and fortifies its identity, it beckons travelers to explore its breathtaking landscapes and immerse themselves in the beauty and charm of Bohol.

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Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP) Program

DOCUMENTATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOHOL TOURISM VALUE CHAIN UPGRADING STRATEGIES

About the PSP (SMEDSEP) Program Comprising over 99% of business establishments, micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play an important role in the economy of the Philippines . MSME potential for creating jobs is large, yet its growth is hampered by a weak business and investment climate (BIC)—the multitude of regulations and policies they must comply with; a lack of venue for MSMEs to push for changes in government service delivery; lack of access to finance and competent business development services. As such, the Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP) Program*, a technical cooperation project between the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany, was conceived to help improve the Philippine BIC for MSMEs.

*also referred to as the Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (SMEDSEP)

Rene Y. Paquibut www.smedsep.ph July 2011

Preface 4 Executive Summary 5 1 Introduction 6 1.1 Background and Objectives 6 1.2 Methodology 6 1.3 Review of Relevant Documents 7 1.3.1 Tourism Act of 2009 7 1.3.2 Bohol Tourism Master Plan 9 1.3.3 Provincial Biodiversity Framework 12 1.3.4 Tourism Sector MSME Development Plan 13 1.4 Review of Relevant Initiatives 13 1.4.1 AFOS-WECAN 13 1.4.2 Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development 13 1.4.3 Philippine Business for Social Progress 14 1.4.4 Philippines-Australian Human Resource Development Facility 14 1.4.5 Philippines-Australia Community Program 14 1.4.6 New Zealand Ageny for International Development 14 1.4.7 Ayala Foundation 14 1.4.8 European Union 15 1.4.9 NOVIB 15 1.4.10 United Nations Development Program 15 1.4.11 Roads Rehabilitation Project 15 2 Value Chain Approach to Bohol Tourism Development 16 2.1 Conceptual Framework 16 2.1.1 Value Chain 16 2.1.2 Systemic Competitiveness 16 2.1.3 TOWS Analysis Matrix 17 2.2 Launching the Tourism Value Chain Approach 18 2.3 Customer Satisfaction Survey 18 2.4 Results of Consultation Workshops 18 2.5 Results of the Bohol Tourism Summit 19 2.5.1 Tourism Packaging and Marketing 19 2.5.2 Transportation 20 2.5.3 Accommodation 20 2.5.4 Food and Beverage 20 2.5.5 Sites and Attractions 20 2.5.6 Tourism Activities 21 2.5.7 Souvenirs 21

3 Conclusion 22 4 Recommendations 23 5 References 24 6 Appendices 25

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is implementing Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP) Program in pursuit of a more favorable business climate for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) particularly in the Visayas .

PSP SMEDSEP has three Program components: Component 1 supports the development of micro, small and medium enterprise development strategies to improve the competitiveness of MSMEs, Component 2 supports the improvement of the competitiveness of localities in the Visayas and Component 3 supports the improvement of the competitiveness of industry sectors.

In 2009 and 2010, GIZ-PSP conducted trainings for Service Providers on Value Chain Analysis and Upgrading. This pool of service providers trained on the Value Chain approach is now being tapped by GIZ to support and coach DTI and the various sectors to improve their competitiveness using the approach.

In Bohol, the Value Chain approach is used to analyze the province’s priority sectors and develop upgrading strategies. Two of these sectors are tourism and the weaving industry that includes raffia weaving, the products of which are home furnishings and gift items.

It is recognized that aside from GIZ’s PSP SMEDSEP there are other agencies working to contribute to the development of tourism in Bohol. This report is an attempt at reviewing documents and initiatives related to Bohol Tourism with the view of proposing possible integration and harmonization. Furthermore, the Value Chain Approach as tried and tested in Bohol is detailed here for reference by those who may want to use the same approach.

Executive Summary

The Value Chain Approach has been determined effective in getting stakeholders’ participation in planning development. In Bohol, the Value Chain approach was used to analyze the province’s priority sectors and develop upgrading strategies. Two of these sectors are tourism and the weaving industry that includes raffia weaving, the products of which are home furnishings and gift items.

To further the initiative of GIZ-PSP in supporting the improvement of the competitiveness of Bohol’s tourism sector and to make use of the service providers trained on the Value Chain approach, a series of consultations with the various stakeholders was conducted in the months of April and May 2011. During the consultations, issues were discussed and solutions were considered. The outputs of the consultations were then consolidated for final validation and prioritization during the Bohol Tourism Summit in June 2011.

The process of arriving at the prioritized value chain upgrading strategies was indeed long and tedious—from the introduction of the value chain concept in August 2010, to the conduct of the customer satisfaction survey, to the consultations in April and May 2011, and the final validation workshop during the Bohol Tourism Summit in June 2011. But the participatory process called for such a process. The challenge ahead is the implementation of the strategies. The challenge has been accepted by the Bohol Tourism Council which is expected to drive the implementation of the strategies by first of all translating the strategies into concrete action plans.

As an added value, this report also includes the review of documented plans to improve tourism in Bohol prior to the value chain approach and the initiatives of the different agencies interested in the competitiveness of Bohol as a tourism destination.

1 Introduction

1.1 Background and Objectives

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is implementing Private Sector Promotion (SMEDSEP) Program in pursuit of a more favorable business climate for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) particularly in the Visayas.

The Value Chain Approach has been determined effective in getting stakeholders’ participation in planning development. In 2009 and 2010, GIZ-PSP conducted trainings for Service Providers on Value Chain Analysis and Upgrading. This pool of service providers trained on the Value Chain approach is now being tapped by GIZ to support and coach DTI and the various sectors to improve their competitiveness using the approach.

In Bohol, the Value Chain approach is used to analyze the province’s priority sectors and develop upgrading strategies. Two of these sectors are tourism and the weaving industry that includes raffia weaving, the products of which are home furnishings and gift items. To further the initiative of GIZ-PSP in improving the competitiveness of Bohol’s tourism sector and to make use of the service providers trained on the Value Chain approach, a series of consultations with the various stakeholders was conducted. During the consultations, issues were discussed and solutions were considered. The outputs of the consultations were then consolidated for final validation and prioritization.

This report was prepared with the objective of supporting the DTI and the tourism sector in developing strategies to upgrade the competitiveness of the tourism sector using the various tools in the Value Chain approach.

Aside from documenting the processes and outputs of the value chain approach, selected documents related to Bohol’s tourism development effort were also reviewed to determine how much work has already been done for Bohol’s tourism sector. In addition, this review would help in finding out whether or not there are duplications of initiatives and serve as reference for future initiatives.

1.2 Methodology

The content of this report were from the results of the following:

1. Review of the following relevant documents: • Tourism Act of 2009; • Bohol Tourism Master Plan; • Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan of Bohol (2006- 2015); and • Tourism Sector MSME Development Plan. 2. Review of the outputs of the value chain consultations workshops.

3. Review of the outputs of the Bohol Tourism Summit. 4. Interview with representatives of the following agencies: • Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid); • United States Agency for International Development (USAid); • Philippine Business for Social Progress; • LGSP-LED; and • AFOS-WECAN through the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

1.3 Review of Bohol Tourism-Relevant Documents and Initiatives

1.3.1 Tourism Act of 2009

Republic Act 9593, otherwise known as the Tourism Act of 2009, is “an act declaring a national policy for tourism as an engine of investment, employment, growth and national development, and strengthening the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies to effectively and efficiently implement that policy, and appropriating funds therefor”.

The following are the general provisions, as written in the document:

The state declares tourism as an indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of national interest and importance, which must be harnessed as an engine of socio- economic growth and cultural affirmation to generate investment, foreign exchange and employment, and to continue to mold an enhanced sense of national pride for all Filipinos. Towards this end the State seeks to:

a) Ensure the development of Philippine Tourism that is for and by the Filipino people, conserve and promote their heritage, national identity and sense of unity; b) Recognize sustainable tourism development as integral to the national socio- economic efforts to improve the quality of life of the Filipino people, providing the appropriate attention and support for the growth of this industry; c) Promote a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible, participative, culturally sensitive, economically viable, and ethically and socially equitable for local communities; d) Create a favourable image of the Philippines within the international community, thereby strengthening the country’s attraction as a tourism destination and eventually paving the way for other benefits that may result from a positive global view of the country; e) Develop the country as a prime tourism hub in Asia, as well as a center of world congresses and conventions, by promoting sustainable tourism anchored principally on the country’s history, culture and natural endowments, and ensuring the protection, preservation and promotion of these resources; and f) Encourage private sector participation and agri-tourism for countryside development and preservation of rural life.

The State shall adopt the following objectives:

7 a) Develop a national tourism action plan and work for its adoption and implementation by national and local governments; b) Encourage activities and programs which promote tourism awareness, preserve the country’s diverse cultures and heritage, and instill a sense of history and a culture of tourism among the youth and the populace; c) All things being equal, grant preferential treatment to the employment of Filipino nationals in tourism-related enterprises; d) Provide full government assistance by way of competitive investment incentives, long-term development fund and other financing schemes extended to tourism related investments; e) Ensure that tourism development protects and promote the general well-being of the Filipino people, particularly in the area of investment, to include the monitoring and prevention of any act of profiteering or speculation to the detriment of local residents, as well as the exploitation of women and children in tourism; f) Encourage competition in the tourism industry and maximize consumer choice by enhancing the continued viability of the retail travel industry and independent tour operation industry; g) Enhance the collection, analysis and dissemination of data which accurately measure the economic and social impact of tourism in the country to facilitate planning in the public and private sectors; h) Ensure the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology through the promotion of activities geared towards environmental protection, conservation and restoration; i) Develop responsible tourism as a strategy for environmentally sound and community participatory tourism programs, enlisting the participation of local communities, including indigenous peoples, in conserving bio-physical and cultural diversity, promoting environmental understanding and education, providing assistance in the determination of ecotourism sites and ensuring full enjoyment of the benefits of tourism by the concerned communities; j) Strengthen the role of tourism councils and encourage the participation of non- government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (Pos) and the private sector in initiating programs for tourism development and environmental protection; k) Promote the progressive development of existing civil aviation, land and sea transportation policies as they relate to tourism, in consonance with existing bilateral agreements and inter-agency pronouncements; l) Achieve a balance in tourism development between urban and rural areas in order to spread the benefits of tourism and contribute to poverty alleviation, better access to infrastructure and to a reduction in regional imbalances; m) Enhance capability building of local government units (LGUs), in partnership with the private sector, in the management of local tourism projects and initiative, thereby assuring accessible and affordable destinations throughout the country, especially in areas which have shown comparative advantage; n) Maintain international standards of excellence in all tourism facilities and services, and promote the country as a safe and wholesome tourist destination; o) Enhance international business relations for the support of tourism projects of the private sector, through partnerships, joint ventures and other cooperative undertakings involving local and foreign investors;

p) Support the establishment of tourism enterprise zones (TEZs), which will provide the necessary vehicle to coordinate actions of the public and private sectors to address development barriers, attract and focus investment on specific geographic areas and upgrade product and service quality; and q) Ensure a sustainable funding mechanism for the implementation of tourism policies, plans, programs, projects and activities.

1.3.2 Bohol Tourism Master Plan

The Bohol Tourism Master Plan was an output of a study prepared to meet the following objectives:

1) Articulate in more remarkable features what the province means by the adage: BOHOL HAS IT ALL! 2) Compile an accessible folio, a shopping list of implementable tourism projects, which prospective investors can make use of in their search for opportunities in the province. 3) Use responsible tourism as a tool for propagating culture awareness, pride of place, and preservation of the natural environment, particularly for the Boholanos. 4) Make use of community tourism as a tool to develop livelihood, thus mitigating poverty. 5) Open new opportunities for the constituents of Bohol in propagating social connectivity. 6) Spread tourism by emphasizing the beneficial gains through awareness, association, education and cooperation with the larger social milieu. 7) Initiate and continue expanding the resources of the province for capacity building for tourism. 8) Develop and upgrade guidelines, implementing rules and regulations for responsible tourism in the Province of Bohol.

The report included the Strategic Development Profiles and Models Tourism Investment Folios; Environmental Management Plan; Conceptual Area Plans; Proposed Framework Plans for Specific Areas in the Clusters; Land Use and Specifications for Core Zones and Buffers; Transport Infrastructure Plan; Conservation Management Plan; and Investment Plan. According to the document, tourism development would be phased based on the following horizons:

• Three (3) years under the short term (2007 through 2010) during which the Panglao Airport is expected to be completed; • Six (6) years under the medium term (2010 through 2015) occurring immediately after the opening of the Panglao Airport; and • Ten (10) years under the long term (2016 through 2025).

The master plan presented the result of a situational analysis using the SWOT Analysis as tool. Appendix 1 on page 26 summarizes the development potentials and challenges identified. The potentials and challenges were used as basis for the formulation of a strategic development plan presented in Appendix 2 on page 28. The strategic development plan details the vision, identified target market and future prospects for Bohol Tourism, the development strategies formulated, and the legal and fiscal framework within which such development would take place.

The document also described how the plan to develop Tourism in Bohol translates into infrastructure investments to be required of the public sector. Similarly, the expected cooperation

9 of the private sector was also included with a description of the types of physical development investments they are to make and how those in the accommodations sector are expected to improve in terms of quality of facilities as well as services. Appendix 3 on page 30 summarizes these investment requirements.

A Tourism Cluster is a group of Tourism Sites (TSs) that have geographical proximity and/or common thematic attributes. Appendix 4 on page 32 presents the five (5) suggested Tourism Clusters identified which are largely based on land and water forms/ characteristics, geography and linkages, land use and settlement patterns, available infrastructure, type/ quality/ quantity of tourism assets (whether nature-based or man-built) as well their perceived tourism development potentials.

Aside from the proposed tourism clusters, possible culture, heritage and arts tours have also been recommended. The themed tours were selected and based on the thematic relevance of the combination, the aesthetic and attractive values found in each heritage/cultural destination as they are grouped together in a package, and the accessibility and proximity of these destinations to each of the sites mentioned in a package. Appendix 5 on page 34 summarizes these recommended thematic tours.

The document also included a proposed plan for Agri-tourism development. Agri- tourism as understood elsewhere and as applied to Bohol shall be a style of vacation in which hospitality is offered on farms. This may include the opportunity to assist with farming tasks during the visit. Both the artificial and natural bodies of water created by the Bayongan (San Miguel) and Malinaw (Pilar) Dams under Bohol Irrigation Phase 1 and 2 and the Capayas (Ubay) Irrigation Facility may function not only as a steady source of water but as the agri- tourism base for northeastern (NE) Bohol as well. The agri-tourism park at the Ubay Stock Farm, the existing/ proposed Bohol Experimental Station and the existing/ proposed Central Visayas Integrated Agriculture Resource Center shall fully complement the foregoing water- based agri-tourism attractions. Among the tourism-oriented/ related attractions/ activities possible for the dam areas are those that can be frequented and readily appreciated by families (especially with kids), friends, co-workers, schoolmates, couples, etc. as follows:

• getting immersed in farming/ culturing (land and water) or fruit- growing/harvesting activities; • getting together with family and friends, dining outdoors, picnicking, cookouts, bonfires; • boating, swimming, fishing; • playgrounds, playfields, animal viewing/ petting /riding; • communing with nature/ appreciating canopies of huge trees or natural formations, trekking, botanical (including orchidariums) and/or zoological gardens; • spelunking (where possible); • hiking, biking, exercising or even light motor-related activities; • for presentations (including natural outdoor platforms or amphitheaters (where feasible); and • generally relaxing, convalescing or whiling away time.

Other common examples of agri-tourism activities that can be introduced into Bohol are: a) Overnight stays: Lodging and camping; bed and breakfast; camp sites; youth/ summer camp; farm vacation (farm stays, feeding animals, picking fruits/ vegetables); rental cabin for day trips/ picnics; weddings, receptions, honeymoons; b) Special events and festivals c) Off the farm; Farmers'markets (land and water agriculture products); Vendor at provincial, city or town fairs; Roadside produce stands; music festivals; holiday celebrations; harvest festivals; d) Recreation activities and events; fee fishing; skeet shooting; canoe livery; biking; horseback riding; bird watching; hiking; hang gliding; hot air balloon rides (if safe and feasible); rock climbing/ rappelling; mountain climbing/ trekking/ spelunking e) Fresh products and value-added products: Tourism-enhanced direct marketing; pick your own fruit/ vegetables (land or water-grown) in “infotainment” or “entertainment” farms; harvest, dress, cook and eat protein sources (wild or cultured livestock, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, shellfish etc.) make and sell bottled/ processed foods on the farm: nuts, sweets, relishes, local wine, honey, jams and jellies; sell herbal/ organic products: candies, salves, handmade blankets or clothing; f) Youth and/or adult education; organized tours: school groups, senior groups, church groups, tour groups; agricultural education programs: how to grow fruits, how to care for cattle/carabaos; nature education programs: wildlife, trees; demonstrations: cheese making, native wine or honey making (as applicable), heritage crafts;

As agri-tourism development may be considered an upstream tourism development concept, some of the downstream development concepts which can be tourism- oriented/related are:

• farm estates; • leisure farm estates (for weekend or gentlemen farmers who may want to mix farming with social, sports or leisure activities); • agricultural resort subdivisions; • retirement facilities (local and foreign) in agricultural settings; • medical tourism facilities that only use organic healing methods; and • research, academic or training facilities in agricultural settings.

The document included an Entrepreneurship Development Plan to put premium on alleviating poverty in the province. Recognizing the view that “ecotourism, also referred to as pro- poor tourism...have the potential to provide economic benefits to more people which can, in turn, be channeled to improve nutrition and food security, housing, health, and on the whole–to an increase in the standard of living in the rural areas through the development of micro-enterprises or small-scale business which has the potential to close the gap between the employable labor force and actual jobs available. Enterprise development expands the opportunity base for the underutilized labor force to get involved in gainful employment and thus contribute to reducing overall poverty incidence in the province over time.”

The major source of income of Boholano families comes from entrepreneurial activities. Of these entrepreneurial or livelihood activities, majority is agriculture-based: farming and fishing.

Fishing is the second main source of income in terms of revenue. About 53% of the total population of Bohol province is directly dependent on fishing. Other enterprises involve crafts (basket and mat weaving, pottery, loom weaving and other native crafts), trading and other services such as tourism-related businesses, financing, etc. Appendix 6 on page 37 summarizes this plan. In addition, a discussion on how the environment may be managed and heritage may be conserved while tourism is developed in Bohol is also included. Appendix 7 on page 39 summarizes the strategies proposed by the tourism master plan.

1.3.3 Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan of Bohol (2006-2015)

The project to prepare a Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan of Bohol (2006-2015) was a joint undertaking between the Province of Bohol thru PPDO, BEMO, BTO and German Development Service (DED), InWENT, UNDP-GEF-SGF thru SWCF, DENR and DOT. The development of this framework plan has been initiated through a joint undertaking between the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation (SWCF) and the Bohol Provincial Government represented by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO), and the Bohol Tourism Office (BTO).

A partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) together with the Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) helped to complete this document. Technical support was provided by the German Development Service (DED), and SWCF while InWent, an international capacity-building agency, the UNDP-GEF- SGF Program and the Small-Scale Funding Program of the European Union coursed through SWCF, made available funds for the technical trainings and workshops.

A multi-sectoral Ecotourism Technical Working Group (ETWG) was created composed of the regional and provincial government agencies such as DENR- PAWB, PENRO, DOT, PPDO, BEMO and BTO, representatives from NGOs like the SWCF, FCB Foundation, PROCESS, and the Bohol Marine Triangle Project/PADAYON Bohol Marine Triangle Management Council, and from the private sector, put in their expertise and efforts in the formulation of this plan.

The framework plan was a result of several activities: 1) Delivery of a training program by module on “Capacitating the Stakeholders in the Preparation of Biodiversity and Eco-tourism Framework Plan, Bohol”, targeting local government units, NGOs involved in ecotourism development, local communities, academe, and private sector; and 2) The creation Bohol Ecotourism Club (BET-C)-an inter-sectoral body with representatives from local government, NGOs, local communities and from the tourism industry was created. This body is a prime mover and watchdog for eco-tourism activities in the province, to be seen as the authority on ecotourism in the province and represent or be part of development groups ensuring that ecotourism principles are applied in the municipalities especially by LGUs.

The document presented constraints in terms of the management, cultural and socio- economic and institutional constraints shown in Appendix 8 on page 41. The 2006-2015 Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan is summarized in Appendices 9 to 11 on pages 43 to 49. Appendix 9 presents the vision, mission, goals, guiding principles and objective of the plan. Appendix 10 shows the strategies for eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation. And finally, Appendix 11 introduces proposed programs.

Similar to the Bohol Tourism Master Plan, the Biodiversity Conservation and Ecotourism Framework Plan also proposed thematic tour packages based on what LGUs could offer. Appendix 12 on page 50 shows the proposed themes for LGUs in District 1. Appendix 13 on page 51 presents the recommended thematic tour packages for District 2 and Appendix 14 on page 52 presents that of District 3.

1.3.4 Tourism Sector MSME Development Plan

The Department of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the GIZ conducted a workshop to activate and assist the MSMED Council of Bohol. In the workshop, the representatives of both the private and pubic sectors identified tourism as a priority sector. The result of the workshop was an action plan divided into four outcome areas: 1) Business Environment, 2) Access to Finance, 3) Access to Market, and 4) Productivity and Efficiency. These four outcome areas, when addressed, are determined to improve the competitiveness of the micro, small, and medium enterprises. The gaps identified in the outcome areas were also further analyzed using the four levels of analysis in the systemic competitiveness framework. The action plan and the gaps are presented in Appendix 15 and 16 on pages 54 and 59.

1.4 Review of Relevant Initiatives

The initiatives presented here are only some of those which are taking place or have taken place in the province of Bohol.

1.4.1 AFOS-WECAN through the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The AFOS-WECAN project is based in Cebu and has the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry as partner. Working for the Enhancement of Chambers and Association Network, the WECAN project has the Visayas and CARAGA regions as its scope. In Region 7, it is assisting the chambers of commerce of Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor . While assisting to strengthen the chambers, AFOS-WECAN also implements the Sector Unit Approach where the chamber identifies a focus sector to develop. In Bohol, the chamber of commerce identified the accommodations sector as its focus sector. Presently, a Sector unit Counselor was appointed by the chamber to help in working for the improvement of the accommodations sector. The Counselor has started a survey to generate a data base that will then be used as basis for interventions. The AFOS-WECAN is on its first phase to end in July 2012.

1.4.2 The Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development

The Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) is an eight-year (2008-2016) collaborative project of the Governments of Canada and the Philippines. The goal of the Program is to foster efficient, responsive, transparent and accountable governance at all levels. Its purpose is to reduce poverty by strengthening local governance and supporting sustainable local economic development (LED). The Program operates both at the national and local levels, providing a better enabling environment for local government units (LGUs) and

13 improving the prospects for local economic development in various communities.

1.4.3 Philippine Business for Social Progress

The Linking Initiatives for Collaborative Coastal Resource Management Program (LINC- CRMG) is a strategic response to the alarming degradation of some of Visayas Coastal ecosystems. The program aims to implement effective and sustainable coastal resource management policies and projects in communities to contribute to the reduction of poverty.

Funded by the European Union, LINC-CRMG primarily works with local government units through the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils (FARMC). Believing that a successful coastal resource management initiative requires the involvement of various sectors, the program also engages with the business sector, non-government organizations, academe, and community-based groups. LINC CRMG is currently implemented in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Guimaras , Western Samar and Southern Leyte .

The program helps in rehabilitating coastal zones and in managing critical habitats, identifies alternative livelihood to ease pressure on coastal resources, and creates an enabling environment for the enforcement of fishery and coastal conservation laws. By rehabilitating the costal environment, the program promotes the growth of tourism businesses.

1.4.4 Philippines-Australian Human Resource Development Facility

The Philippines-Australian Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF) assisted the Provincial Government of Bohol to develop a Handbook in Tourism Standards which defines what standards the tourism industry must comply. These standards are localized standards but based on DOT requirements. PAHRDF also provided scholarships to the Municipal Tourism Officers of Loboc and Danao municipalities.

1.4.5 Philippines-Australia Community Program

The Philippines — Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP) provided assistance in the development of community-based ecotourism sites like the Maribojoc Cultural Collectives, Lamanok (Anda) Ecotourism, Sevillla “hanging bridge” ecotourism site, among others.

1.4.6 New Zealand Agency for International Development

The New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) assisted the island of Pamilacan to conserve its marine mammals by turning communities into watchers/ tour guides of these marine mammals instead of poaching/killing them for livelihood.

1.4.7 Ayala Foundation

Ayala Foundation through Bea Zobel built on the NZAID project in Pamilacan by enhancing the Pamilacan Whale Watching Tour.

1.4.8 European Union

The European Union provided resources to the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation (SWCF) for the protection and biodiversity conservation of the Rajah Sikatuna National Park and turning this protected area into ecotourism sites.

1.4.9 NOVIB

NOVIB assisted PROCESS Bohol to protect the Abatan River and Watershed and develop the area into another ecotourism site, which is now managed by the Abatan River Development and Management Council (ARDMC).

1.4.10 The Uniter Nations Development Program

The UNDP in the early 2000 assisted the Bohol Marine Triangle (Panglao, Dauis , Baclayon ) to conserve and protect the marine resources and assist the three municipalities for sustainable coastal tourism.

1.4.11 Road Rehabilitation Project

With the assistance of the Australian Agency for International Development, roads in Bohol are being rehabilitated which should have a positive impact on tourism in the province. This roads rehabilitation project includes the following: • The 14.2- kilometer Mahayag - Danao Road is the shortest connection between the Chocolate Hills of Carmen to the Danao Extreme Adventure Park in Danoa town. • The 6-kilometer San Isidro- Catigbian via Caimbang Road connects three municipalities in the Abatan Cluster (Antequera, Catigbian and Balilihan ) and the shortest distance to Mag- aso Falls, if one is coming from the interior side that is Danao, Sagbayan and Catigbian. • The Tinago-Biking and Tinago-Bingag Road which is a provincial gravel road that connects the resorts on the side of the Panglao island that faces Tagbilaran where Panglao Island Nature Resort is, among others, to the beaches on the side of Panglao facing Negros Oriental and Siquijor, where the Alona resorts are. • The Dimiao -Oac-Bilar road which is the shortest distance between the eastern part of Bohol (Dimiao, Valencia, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna ) to man-made forest of Bilar and going to the chocolate hills of Carmen and other eco-sites in the interior part of Bohol.

2 Value Chain Approach to Bohol Tourism Development

2.1 Conceptual Framework

Introduction Value Prioritized of Value Chain Upgrading Chain Mapping Strategies

Customer TOWS Systemic Satisfaction Analysis Competitiveness Survey

2.1.1 Value Chain

Many would be familiar with the work of Michael Porter. In his 1986 book Competitive Advantage Michael porter introduced the value chain concept. Although Michael Porter explained it more thoroughly in his book, the concept is simplified here for the purpose of usability and transferability. As tool for analysis, one would be able to determine weaknesses in systems or processes by simply acknowledging that value is created by activities that are sequential. All activities in the chain should contribute value, every activity producing value that is added on by the next activity, and so on. Guided by the principle that ‘the strength of a chain is measured by the weakest link’, a chain or sequence of activities is determined to be competitive only when all the activities contribute value.

The use of the value chain as tool for analysis, at its simplest form, requires that first of all the chain of activities is mapped out, either vertically or horizontally. This would be followed by the identification of stakeholders classified as players and enablers. Players are those who perform the function or activity in the chain while the enablers are agencies that are expected to support the players by working for a conducive business environment.

Once mapped out, the value chain may become more useful as information is added to the map. For example, statistics in terms of value created per activity relative to cost of inputs in the creation of value may provide valuable insight regarding the strength of the chain. Depending on the purpose for which the analysis is performed, the value chain approach provides an excellent view of the bigger picture without losing sight of the important details.

2.1.2 Systemic Competitiveness

Systemic Competitiveness is the contribution of the German Development Institute originally developed for industrial development. In the 1998 report of Altenburg, Hillebrand, and Meyer-Stamer, Building Systemic Competitiveness: Concept and Case Studies from Mexico, Brazil,

Paraguay, Korea and Thailand systemic competitiveness as concept “seeks to capture both the political and the economic determinants of successful industrial development. It refers to a pattern in which state and social actors deliberately create the conditions for successful industrial development.” They further argued that as a framework for analysis, there are four levels at which one should approach development.

The first is the meta level where the development-readiness of a culture is determined and whether or not there is a consensus on the need to for development and integration into the world market. It also looks into the ability of the social actors to jointly work together to formulate visions and strategies and implement policies.

The second level is the macro level. At this level once examines whether or not there is a stable and predictable macroeconomic framework in place. Among others, the exchange rate and general foreign trade policies are analyzed—whether or not they stimulate investments.

The third is the meso level where policies and institutions are examined to determine whether or not they “shape industries and their environment (technology institutes, training centers, export finance, etc.) and create a competitive advantage. Moreover, it is the world of local and regional industrial competitiveness initiatives to strengthen the firms’ environment. Many of the institutions that act at the mesolevel are typically, or can in principle be, nongovernment entities, e.g. business associations or nonprofit entities.”

And the fourth is the micro level where firms or network of firms are examined to find out how strong their external linkages are and their capability for continuous improvement.

2.1.3 TOWS Analysis Matrix

While value chain and systemic competitiveness offer a way to look at the bigger picture, the TOWS analysis matrix is a handy tool for generating issues and concerns and formulating strategies. This tool may be found among the many tools for analysis offered by mindtools.com. TOWS is the abbreviation for Threats, Opportunities, Weakness, and Strengths. This tool is in fact a modification of the more popular SWOT Analysis. However, the TOWS Analysis Matrix does more than just listing issues and concerns regarding the firm’s internal and external environment. It defines clearly how strategies may be formulated using the information generated.

As a process, one can start at determining issues and concerns (positive or negative) classified as Threats and Opportunities for those external to the firm, and Weaknesses and Strengths for those internal to the firm. Then a matrix can be prepared which will facilitate the comparison of Threats with Strengths to generate mini-maxi strategies (or strategies that minimizes threats by maximizing strengths). Threats can also be compared with weaknesses to formulate mini-mini strategies or strategies that minimize threats and weaknesses. Opportunities can be paired with strengths to formulate strategies that maximize opportunities and strengths or maxi-maxi strategies. Opportunities and weaknesses can generate maxi-mini strategies or strategies that maximize opportunities and minimize weaknesses. Please see the matrix below.

Opportunities Threats Strengths maxi-maxi strategies maxi-mini strategies

Weakness mini-maxi strategies mini-mini strategies

The long list of strategies generated from the exercise can then be prioritized. The process should produce more strategies than can be managed for implementation. Thus, the prioritization of these strategies would be critical. For the prioritization exercise to be bias-free somehow, the easiest would be to vote on the strategies in terms of specific criteria such as impact to vision, practicability, and cost of implementation.

2.2 Launching the Tourism Value Chain Approach

In August 2010, the tourism stakeholders of Bohol were gathered to a presentation and appreciation of the Value Chain Concept and to participate in a workshop to define the Tourism Value Chain Map of the province. The output was a tentative value chain map showing the functions performed in the chain, the players that perform the functions, and the agencies that support the players in terms of policies and services directed at improving business environment, access to market, productivity and efficiency, and access to finance.

As result of the presentation and the workshop that followed, the stakeholders recognized the need to work together knowing that the development of tourism in Bohol requires that the functions in the value chain are performed well. It was further acknowledged that to have a better analysis of Bohol’s tourism value chain there must be information. It was resolved in the forum that the stakeholders would cooperate in the data gathering initiatives that would be undertaken after that.

2.3 Customer Satisfaction Survey

After recognizing the need for information to properly analyze the tourism value chain, a customer satisfaction survey was the first data-gathering activity conducted. Holy Name University was commissioned to conduct the survey using the instrument designed by Mr. Uwe Sturman. The conduct of the survey was made more efficient with the use of the Samsung tablet phone which allowed faster recording of responses by survey respondents. The results of the survey are presented in Appendix 17 on page 61.

The results of the survey were presented to the stakeholders as input during the pre- summit and consultation workshops.

2.4 Results of Consultation Workshops

The first consultation workshop was done in the afternoon of April 13, 2011 immediately after the Pre-Tourism Summit program. The pre-summit marked the official launching by

Governor Chatto of the Bohol Tourism Summit scheduled on June 9-10, 2011. The first consultation was held with the representatives of the LGUs. The second consultation was conducted on April 27 with the hotels, resorts, and restaurants owners. This was followed with the tour operators and tour guides on May 4, 2011. The transportation operators group had theirs on May 16 while the Sports and Health and Wellness group on May 17, 2011. On May 27, 2011 the Suppliers (souvenirs makers and food suppliers) were also gathered for the consultation workshop. The heritage group also had their separate meeting to discuss tourism issues and concerns relative to heritage and culture.

The results of the consultations were consolidated in a matrix showing the functions of the value chain, the players, and the issues discussed—classified as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Another matrix was prepared to consolidate the solutions proposed by the groups. These solutions were further processed using the ‘systemic competitiveness’ framework where solutions that address the meta level were grouped. The same were done for those in the macro, meso, and micro levels. These matrices are shown on pages 63 and 68 respectively as Appendices 18 to 19.

The same matrices were used by the ad hoc committee formed by the Governor to review the vision of the province for tourism. The revised vision statement is as follows:

Bohol is the country’s prime eco-cultural tourist destination where visitors experience and learn from its distinct beauty and culture nurtured by a community committed to environmental, cultural and economic sustainability while meeting global tourism standards.

2.5 Results of the Bohol Tourism Summit

The Bohol Tourism Summit was finally held on July 9 and 10,2011 with the summit program design finalized by the Bohol Provincial Department of Trade and Industry and the Bohol Tourism Office and discussed with and approved by the Governor. After the program on June 9, 2011—the first day of the two-day event—the consolidated results of the consultations and the revised vision statement were presented to the stakeholders for validation. The long list of solutions was then converted by the stakeholders into a short list of prioritized strategies as the output of a workshop that followed.

On the final day of the summit (June 10, 2011) Atty. Lucas Nunag, who chairs Bohol’s Tourism Council, officially presented the revised vision statement and the prioritized value chain upgrading strategies. The prioritized value chain upgrading strategies by value chain function are as follows.

2.5.1 Tourism Packaging and Marketing

• There should be a unified marketing strategy to intensify the promotion of Bohol as an eco-cultural destination and as a paddling/kayaking capital of the Philippines; engage local writers and utlize media to brand Bohol’s cultural heritage; come up with a tagline for

eco-cultural tourism to differentiate Bohol from mainstream tourism; fund Bohol’s tourism website showing everything about Bohol and to attract investors. • Raise cultural awareness among tourism stakeholders to promote the culture of tourism and avoid abuse and misuse of heritage sites and cultural assets/workers; enforcement of the BACH Code; educate LGUs on policies, laws, and codes. • Enforce Tourism Act of 2009.

2.5.2 Transportation

• Standardize quality of service i.e. drivers’ hygiene, maintenance of vehicles, customer service, speed limits. • Accreditation of tourism transport vehicles (elimination of colurum operation). • Standardize prices. • Establish tourist assistance centers in all ports; improve ports facilities. • Create awareness on environmental protection.

2.5.3 Accommodation

• Resolve the airport problem to increase local and international arrivals. • Accreditation of all accommodation establishments; regular inspection should be made to ensure quality; and enforce Magna Carta for Disabled Persons (RA 9442). • Human resources should be better capacitated to improve the industry; promote vocational training to improve skills of hotel/resort personnel. • Review and enforce environmental laws; impose penalties on violators; implement proper waste disposal and treatment; and create awareness among staff and tourists on environmental protection. • Raise eco-cultural awareness among tourism stakeholders to avoid abuse and misuse of heritage sites and cultural assets/workers. • Solve the water problem in Panglao (and Bohol).

2.5.4 Food and Beverage

• Establish linkages between tourism and local agriculture sector for continuous dialogue on local sourcing (vegetables,fish,etc.). • Improve food quality and safety. • Promote agri-tourism ventures. • Enterprises can help farmers as part of their corporate social responsibility. • Use upgraded equipment for increased farm productivity.

2.5.5 Sites and Attractions

• LGUs to enact ordinance and resolutions in support of tourism i.e. appointment of tourism officer, funds for tourism related initiatives. • Raise Cultural awareness among stakeholders to avoid abuse and misuse of heritage sites. • Improve infrastructure at sites and leading to the sites i.e.roads, signages. • Educate both tourists and locals on proper waste disposal. • Enforce environmental laws i.e. easement, coastal, and salvage zones.

• Establish Tourism information centers. • Develop adequate cultural venues and facilities for cultural events and trainings to meet the needs of the tourism industry. • Create awareness among tour guides and tourists on environmental protection.

2.5.6 Tourism Activities

• Educate both tourists and locals on proper waste disposal; create awareness among tour guides on environmental protection. • Conduct cultural shows and arts to promote the culture of Bohol; intensify IEC to promote the culture of tourism. • Raise cultural awareness among tourism stakeholders to avoid abuse and misuse of heritage sites and cultural assets. • Install public cultural education programs to avoid exploitation of local talents, heritage sites, and cultural assets. • Standardize prices.

2.5.7 Souvenirs

• Link with tour operators, hotels, and resorts to access market for souvenirs and for sharing information. • There should be a unified marketing strategy for Bohol products with emphasis in the uniqueness of Bohol and its products; partner with institutions for souvenir product development. • Access microfinance programs for capital requirement; use upgraded equipment and machines for increased productivity; and establish raw materials replenishment program in partnership with LGUs.

3 Conclusion

The review of documents highlighted efforts to plan the development of tourism in Bohol. Even before the Tourism Act of 2009, there were already efforts to improve tourism in Bohol as evidenced by the Tourism Master Plan and the Biodiveristy and Conservation plan. Added to these plans is the MSMED Development Plan which is a more recent document. The plans proposed strategies and programs in policy, infrastructure, and even on what the private sector should focus on. It was the MSMED plan that recognized the four levels of analyzing systemic competitiveness and labelled proposed and on-going initiatives as meta, macro, meso, or micro. All documents highlighted the roles of the private and public sectors in realizing the plans. While the Tourism Master Plan and Biodiversity and Conservation Plan were prepared for the local government, the MSMED Development plan was prepared with the MSMED Council as its primary implementation facilitator. All documents recognize the need for cooperation.

It is also worth noting that various non-government agencies are supporting local government units in initiatives that are expected to benefit tourism in the province from infrastructure to local governance. In fact, one would be amazed at how much interest there is in the development of Bohol in general.

The value chain approach may be considered different in the sense that it is first and foremost a very participatory approach: 1) it introduced the concept to the stakeholders; 2) conducted a customer satisfaction survey; 3) presented the results of the survey as input during a series of consultations with the stakeholders who were grouped according to the various functions of the tourism value chain; 4) generated and discussed issues and formulated strategies; and 5) validated and prioritized the strategies. The value chain approach as participatory process of arriving at the prioritized value chain upgrading strategies was indeed long and tedious. The challenge ahead is the implementation of the strategies. The challenge has been accepted by the Bohol Tourism Council which is expected to drive the implementation of the strategies by first of all translating the strategies into conrete action plans.

4 Recommendations

The following are recommended:

• The value chain approach is also a planning process. As such, it is adding to the many plans already done for tourism in Bohol. To avoid confusing the stakeholders, it would be wise to push the process further to the implementation phase. • Activate and capacitate the trade associations representing the functions in the tourism value chain for them to take a major role in the implementation of the upgrading strategies. • There is a need to harmonize the MSMED plan with the value chain upgrading strategies, which are both recent initiatives, so that cooperation may also be considered. • Capacitate the local government units so that they can properly implement laws and policies and properly manage tourism sites.

5 References

Bohol Tourism Master Plan. http://www.ppdobohol.lgu.ph/tag/tourism-master-plan/. July 15, 2011.

Biodiversity Conservation and Eco-tourism Framework Plan of Bohol (2006-2015). http://www.ppdobohol.lgu.ph/tag/tourism-master-plan/. July 15, 2011.

German Development Institute. Building Systemic Competitiveness: Concept and Case Studies from Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Korea and Thailand. http://www.meyer- stamer.de/1998/sysco98.pdf. August 7, 2011.

Porter, Michael E. Competitive Advantage:Creating Sustaining Superior Performance. The Free Press: New York. 1985.

Using the TOWS Matrix: Developing Strategic Options from an External-Internal Analysis. http:// www.mindtools.com/pages/ article/ newSTR_89.htm. August 7, 2011.

6 Appendices

Appendix 1 Bohol Province Tourism SWOT Matrix (2006)

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats 1. The unique & diverse 1. For some towns, less 1. Province is expected 1. The state of overland natural terrestrial/ than satisfactory levels to benefit from its own linkages (soft and hard marine environmental of power, water, tourism development infrastructure) between resources and ecological transportation, initiatives and from the Tagbilaran City and the heritage; winner of clean communications and spillover of tourism central and northern and green program tourism services in some growth from island towns/ areas may competitions; towns; for some inland neighboring provinces negatively affect the 2. Rich and unique areas generally poor which have more province’s appeal if not historical heritage; road conditions for some developed tourism addressed or 3. Diverse tourism inland areas; markets; incorporated into a short products and availability 2. Comparatively small 2. The National term development plan of tourism services; number of resorts/ Government, via the for immediate 4. Friendly and hotels that can compare DoT and other agencies implementation; hospitable people and favorably with quality are placing high priority 2. Some potentially good levels of resorts/ hotels in other on tourism destructive livelihood community provinces; limited development, practices/ economic involvement; accommodations/ particularly for Bohol activities e.g. quarrying 5. Vast agricultural lands restrooms in the Island; or settlement patterns and good marine Chocolate Hills/ Carmen/ 3. Highly possible to which may affect resources to support Bilar/ Loboc areas; combine tourism with portions of the natural tourism establishments/ 3. Many town-based livelihood and other environment that are activities; tourism establishments economic activities due considered assets for 6. Presence of are in need of physical to economic potentials; sustainable tourism; government-funded or upgrading; some 4. Many opportunities to 3. Undefined delineation supported tourism architectural designs do develop niche market of declared areas; development programs not blend well with the ecotourism products; 4. Negative publicity; (mainly infrastructure environment; 5. Opportunities to possible over- sector projects); 4. Limited marketing encourage/ develop exploitation of the 7. Existence of protected capability; inadequate community-based Province as a tourist areas and strong LGU promotional materials; tourism enterprises; destination without the support in the Chocolate no sustaining come- ons; 6. Establishment of new requisite protective Hills areas; 5. No international brand tourism- oriented/ mechanisms; 8. Good beaches and name hotels/ resorts are related business 5. Peace and order some excellent island in operation; ventures that can help concerns i.e. particularly settings; 6. Need to upgrade generate local NP A presence in some 9. Fully functional land, provincial, city and employment; inland/ upland areas; air and water access municipal LGU 7. Increasing attention 6. Possibility of improper systems; Operating capabilities to fully plan given by NGAs (like the development that may ports/ airport at present and manage tourism DoT and PTA) to the engender prostitution to serve as primary assets and potentials; Chocolate Hills areas, and drugs; gateways to the island 7. Human resources identified as a World 7. Unnecessary artificial province; Transport engaged in tourism Heritage Site; adopt a intervention; and infrastructure is in services still have rather hillproject can help 8. Laws that compromise generally satisfactory limited knowledge and generate more interest the socio- economic and condition; The presence skills; and participation in cultural dimensions of of large ships/ ROROs/ 8. Limited community conservation and eco- affected lands/ ferries from Manila and involvement for some tourism efforts; resources. Cebu are boosts to areas; 8. Other “brands” can be

26 further tourism growth; 9. Land availability and developed without the 10. Internationally land ownership burden of market image recognized brand/ image structures and status history; for the province; may be a concern for 9. Formulation of eco- 11. Excellent marine and future tourism cultural tourism plan; freshwater resources; investment; incorporation of agri- and 10. Full exposure to the tourism/farm tours; use 12. Family-oriented and elements e.g. strong of untapped cultural wholesome amihan (northeast) resources; development destination/s monsoon winds for some of cultural-based parts of the province, groups; etc. 10. Strong LGU leadership, drive and support to effect tourism and infrastructure sector improvements; 11. Development/ operation of the Panglao Island airport by 2010 as the main provincial gateway for international tourists; 12. Development/ operation of the 3-in-1 viaduct-causeway (road, power, water alignment) between Cebu and Jetafe, Bohol, to help complete the planned Central Philippines Super Region 13. 100% completion of the coastal circumferential road system which shall effectively connect all coastal towns and serve as jump-off points to the interior of the island; and 14. existence of travel operators and tour guides.

Appendix 2 Strategic Development Plan for Bohol Tourism

Vision Target Market and Development Legal and Fiscal Future Prospects Strategies Framework The Provincial Annual The indicated the • Develop and Expand To effectively manage Development Plan – 2006, following as the potential Tourism Attractions/ Bohol’s tourism assets and states the vision as visitors for a repackaged Products: optimize to preserve, enhance or follows: “Bohol is a prime Bohol tourism sector: Bohol’s unique and optimize the island’s eco-cultural tourism • Nationals from Russia diverse physical carrying capacity, destination and a strong and other Central Asian attractions/products; tap a tourism-supportive legal agro-industrial province in (part of the old USSR) and/or repackage and fiscal framework must the Visayas with an and East European potential/existing also be in place within the empowered and self- countries; products and/or next few years, to wit: incentives for tourism-related investments; reliant people who are • Korean, Japanese, activities; develop new • institutionalize a God-loving, law-abiding, Taiwanese and mainland or additional niche province-wide tourism proud of their cultural Chinese nationals; market ecotourism code and its supporting heritage and committed • Retirees; and products; guidelines and to the growth and • Medi-spa, adventure, o Encourage operation manuals protection of the cultural-historic and developments in covering physical environment.” The Bohol other enthusiasts. Tourism Sites that have planning and facility Tourism Master Plan good linkage to design; offered a possible Tagbilaran City; • where applicable, tourism-oriented variant o Develop Further Tourism require the Provincial of the province-wide Sites that are unique to Land Use Council (PLUC) vision as follows: ”Bohol is the southern Bohol to designate tourism a prime and wholesome seaboard; areas in the eco-cultural tourism o Develop Tourism Sites comprehensive land and destination with an that are close to tourism water use plans empowered people who developments in Cebu (CLWUPs) and zoning are proud of their cultural Island and Develop ordinances (ZOs) of each heritage and committed Tourism Sites that have municipality/ city ; and to the sustainable the attributes for new • Provide incentives/ development of the built, tourism products/ rewards for full cultural and social packages; compliance with environments and the o Develop/Enhance the tourism-supportive protection of the natural Emerging Agri-Tourism policies (national laws, environment”. Industry of Bohol LGU ordinances, rules • Rationalize, Improve and and regulations, Expand Supplier guidelines, manuals of Industries procedure, etc.). o Provide/Rationalize • As with soft Additional infrastructure, the Accommodations private sector must be o Institutionalize thoroughly oriented as Homestay Program and to the overall tourism/ other Services physical development o Improve Internal plan for Bohol in order Linkages to successfully • Strengthen Tourism implement programs/ Cluster Foundations projects that shall o Develop Entrepreneurs address

or Business-Oriented accommodations. Persons who will Similarly, incentives may Generate Job be necessary to allow Opportunities greater private sector o General Improvement of participation. Physical Infrastructure o Improve Linkagesto other Visayan Islands and Mindanao o Promotion of a Tourism Image o Establish Development Authorities o Consolidate Private Sector Investment Programs o Foster Sustainable Environments

Appendix 3 Infrastructure Investments Required by the Development Plan

Hard Infrastructure Soft Infrastructure Physical Accommodations Investments Development of Tourism Sites • over the next 5-10 • transportation i.e. car Although infrastructure • To get all of rooms years, a high-capacity, rentals, car/driver or other investments under a provincial high-speed, limited- rentals, shuttle relating to the physical accreditation program access system in services, medium to development of tourism that can successfully Panglao Island; a long haul commuter sites are the joint monitor their quality, different system services (using the concerns of the public quantity and level of should be evolved to circumferential road and private sectors, the service, the evolution handle slower-moving system or the existing private sector may be of separate sets of traffic e.g. commuter internal road system), largely depended upon physical standards buses, jeepneys, tourist bus operations, to help develop new may need to be tricycles and other boat rentals, cruise tourist sites to improve considered i.e. a human or animal- ships, dive boats, etc.; Bohol’s physical provincial/ city level powered conveyances; • telecommunications carrying capacity and a municipal level • over the next 10-15 (fixed/ landlines, through: of standards. A system years, other road and mobile, internet service • tourism product of promotions can causeway providers/ ISPs, identification and then be set to allow improvements in and satellite, cable, etc.); evaluation; the operators to around Panglao Island • traffic management • tourism product improve from a lower to handle other kinds systems including pay planning, design and to higher physical of on-road traffic parking and towing development; standard with the inasmuch as the services (all in • tourism product use corresponding proposed airport may partnership with the and management of incentives. actually serve more government); and resources available, • institutionalize home than just passengers • human resource found or introduced; stay accommodations/ i.e. freight/ cargo/ development (training and services to address a goods, which means of hotel and resort • tourism product fraction of the need that large, long and service staff, tourism protection for additional heavy vehicles with operator staff, drivers, (monitoring, accommodations. New large turning radii may etc). conservation/ rooms will still be the also frequent Panglao preservation). answer but the Island; and demand for the use of • over the longer terms such rooms should be (10-20 years), other sustained so that their high-capacity, high- continued availability speed, limited-access could be assured. systems that shall link • The private sector will Tagbilaran and Ubay have to be in the (south to north) and forefront of this Tubigon and Jagna investment areas (west to east) to which will help relieve traffic at the improve Bohol’s circumferential road; physical carrying • future port capacity of visitors in improvements at terms of Tagbilaran, Tubigon, accommodations. Ubay and Jagna

particularly when their thresholds are reached/ exceeded; the Ubay airfield may effectively serve general and military aviation air traffic that need not be accommodated in the Panglao airport. • Should the proposed three-in-one (power- water-road/ transport/transit) link between Jetafe and Cebu also materialize over the next 10-20 years, there may also be need for another high- capacity, high- speed, limited-access system (road and rail/ transit) that shall link Jetafe to Tagbilaran and Panglao (northwest to south); • there are other tourism-supportive hard infrastructure investment requirements that need to be looked into over the next several years. These are in the areas of water supply, flood control, solid and liquid waste management, power supply, etc.

Appendix 4 Proposed Tourism Clusters

Tourism Cluster Tourism Cluster Tourism Cluster Tourism Cluster Tourism Cluster 1 2 3 4 5 Tourism Cluster 1 Tourism Cluster 2 Tourism Cluster 3 Tourism Cluster 4 Tourism Cluster 5 (or TC2, a priority 1 (or TC1, also a (or TC3, a priority 2 (or TC4, a priority 2 (or TC5, a priority 2 cluster for tourism priority 1 cluster cluster for tourism cluster for tourism cluster for tourism development) may for tourism development) may development) may development) may be packaged as The development) may be packaged as The be packaged as The be packaged as The Panglao-Pamilacan be package as The Northwestern Northeastern Southeastern Islands Experience Tagbiran City- Bohol Experience Bohol Experience Bohol Experience featuring the Loboc-Carmen- and shall feature featuring the featuring the island-open sea Maribojoc the towns of Loon, coastal towns of coastal towns of experience Experience and Calape , Tubigon, Trinidad, Bien Mabini, Anda, inclusive of diving shall incorporate Clarin, Inabanga , Unido and Ubay, Guindulman , and whale and Clusters 1, 2 and 5 Buenavista, Jetafe, the inland towns of Jagna, Garcia dolphin watching of the earlier Talibon and Danao, Alicia, Sierra Hernandez, tours; the affected clustering with the the island group off Bullones, Pilar, Valencia, Dimiao coastal waters i.e. exception of Loon and Calape Dagohoy and San and Lila, the inland 15.0 km municipal Pamilacan and and the Danahon Miguel and the towns of Sierra waters shall form Panglao Islands Double Reef; island municipality Bullones and part of the limited (originally part of Tubigon shall be its of Carlos P. Garcia; Candijay ; Jagna tourism experience Tourism Cluster 1). tourist service Ubay shall be its shall be its tourist consisting of sun, The proposed TC1 center; the tourist service service center; the beach, sea (surface features Tagbilaran affected coastal center; the affected coastal and diving), City, Baclayon, waters i.e. 15.0 km affected coastal waters i.e. 15.0 km mountain/ forest Loay, Loboc, Bilar, municipal waters waters i.e. 15.0 km municipal waters and history/ Sevilla, Butuan, shall form part of municipal waters shall form part of culture; Carmen, Sagbayan, the limited tourism shall form part of the limited tourism Catig-bian, San experience the limited tourism experience Isidro, Antequera, consisting of sun, experience consisting of sun, Maribojoc, Cortes, beach, sea (surface consisting of sun, beach, sea (surface Corella, Sikatuna and diving); beach, sea (surface and diving), and Balilihan; the and diving), mountain/ forest affected coastal mountain/ forest, and history/ waters i.e. 15.0 inland water culture. kilometer (km) bodies, and municipal waters history/ culture; shall form part of and the total tourism experience consisting of urban day and night tours (including food and shopping), sun, beach, sea (surface and diving), mountain/ forest, inland waterways, and history/ culture; Tagbilaran

City shall be its tourist service center;

Appendix 5 Recommended Thematic Tour Packages

Road Tour Thematics Heritage Tours ThematicCrafts/ HandicraftsTours • Bohol’s Circumferential (Ring) • Religious Tour Mini Spanish • The Crafts / Handicrafts Tours are Road System, if viewed together Colonial Churches tour (1 day suggested to be “Side Trips” or with the natural vistas traversed, is package - anytime) : Tagbilaran, “Add-on Tours” to complement by itself a destination to be Panglao, Dauis, Alburquerque, other themed tours such as a experienced by tourists. The Baclayon, Loay and Loboc Culture & Heritage Tour, Diving & introduction of tourism-oriented Churches. This could be Marine Experience, etc. stops and side tours all along the developed by incorporating a • The Bee Farm Crafts - a 15-minute Ring Road route can definitely make short and mini culture and arts ride (9 kms.) from Tagbilaran City, is travel along it a most pleasurable program such as a 30 minute view a nature-inspired depot of Bohol’s and memorable experience. of some visual arts or cultural handicrafts where you can observe • To make tourist travel along the presentation that a municipality raffia making, basket weaving, Ring Road regular, soft could organize for the occasion. sewing and crafting. Enjoy choosing infrastructure support should be o Comprehensive tour of the best from a wide array of artistically made available by the government, Spanish Colonial Churches in crafted items of indigenous by the private sector or by both in Bohol (2-3 day package): Panglao, materials. tandem. The introduction of Dauis, Alburquerque, Baclayon, • Loboc Crafts – after a scenic driverless rent-a-car services Loay, Loboc, Dimiao, Duero, Loboc River Cruise and an coupled with effective car insurance Maribojoc, Loon, Tubigon and enchanting time with the Loboc policies to cover accidents may be Talibon Children’s Choir, drop by the crafts an option that could be explored. o Post Spanish Colonial Churches center to shop for native baskets, Tourist-friendly LGU policies on the Tour (2-3 day package). This could silhig ibjok, and woodcarvings. use and development of the include a mini performance of the • Maribojoc Crafts Village – see properties abutting/ hugging the Loboc Children’s Choir or some how the “One Town – One Product” Ring Road could also make travel other culture and arts (OTOP) concept works. Visit the along the road a valued experience. presentation that could be common craft center where you • Making the Ring Road safe for conducted in the grounds of can watch “baliw” weaving and everyone’s use is a paramount Dauis/Alburquerque or Loay bring one or two baliw items. Learn concern. Safety zones have to be Church. the native’s way of papermaking designated where all vehicle speeds o Tour of churches with and wind up your visit with a (particularly motorcycles) shall be magnificent Ray Francia, Avila tableya drink, made from the finest reduced to a minimum of 15 or 20 ceiling paintings (2 day package) cacao. kilometers per hour (kph). Other o Lenten Season Visita Iglesia (3-4 safety measures that should be day package): Panglao, Dauis, introduced are humps for Alburquerque, Baclayon, Loay, designated safety areas and Loboc, Dimiao, Duero, Maribojoc, pedestrian crossings, reflectorized Loon, Tubigon and Talibon or luminous traffic signages, regular Churches motorized patrols, comfort/ first • Civic and Government Buildings aid/ call/ service stations and the Architectural Tours like. o Gabaldon School Houses tour (2-3 day tour package – this has to be combined with the other heritage destinations to fill up the gap in traveling to each of the Gabaldon school houses which are located in dispersed municipalities around the island)

34 o Tour of old municipal buildings and their accompanying historical plazas o Tour of the different Escuela de Ninos y Escuela de Ninos in Bohol Technological and architectural significance of the buildings (as well as the churches indicated in the Religious Heritage Tours), the notable architectural and artistic features and elements could likewise be emphasized during the tour to make the tour package most interesting. • Museum Tours Baclayon Church Museum, Clarin House- Loay, Loboc, Maribojoc Church Museum, Rocha House, CP Garcia House • Archeological Heritage Tours Archeological Tour of the caves of Mabini, Anda and Guindulman Sites • Combination Cultural Heritage and Arts Tours: o Panglao, Dauis and Alburquerque Churches, Baclayon Church and Museum, Loay Church and Clarin House, Loboc Church and Children’s Choir, Loboc River Cruise (2 day package). This could also include a mini performance of some other culture and arts presentation that could be conducted in the grounds of Dauis/Alburquerque or Loay Church. o Panglao, Dauis and Alburquerque, Loay Churches and Clarin House (am) and Baclayon Church, Museum and Ancestral houses (pm) (1 day tour package). This could be developed by incorporating a short and mini culture and arts program such as a 30 minute view of some visual arts or cultural presentation that a municipality could organize for the occasion. o Selected Churches with magnificent ceiling paintings combined with Museum tour – ex: Panglao, Dauis, Loay, Dimiao

and Garcia Hernandez with Loboc Church and Museum Baclayon Church and Museum (1 day package) o Selected Churches tour (Panglao, Dauis and Alburquerque, Baclayon Churches) combined with Sambat Maskara Festival of Loay (1 day package)

Appendix 6 Entrepreneurship Development Strategies

General Objective Specific Objectives Strategies To provide an integrated • To enable the Track 1 – This is a general course that aims to common framework for individual or groups of provide the individual with an overview of what it developing individuals to identify, takes to be an entrepreneur and encourages him/her entrepreneurs who can develop, package and to see the numerous potentials that he/she has contribute to the deliver tourism- which may be developed to achieve economic self- reduction of Bohol’s related products sufficiency. poverty incidence. and/or services that 1) Comprehensive Orientation on Entrepreneurship are potential income Development. This includes modules on what generators; entrepreneurship means, Personal • To enable the potentials/entrepreneurial competencies, values individuals or groups orientation, Environmental scanning and of individuals to opportunity identification acquire knowledge, 2) Business Planning – This will include modules on gain proper attitude the market study, production / technical study, and habits, and organizational study and the financial study. develop their skills to Track 2 - This track seeks to provide those in a high enough level to managerial / supervisory positions with methods, operate and sustain a tools and techniques that will aid them in policy tourism-related making, decision making and problem or conflict business; resolutions. Modules may include, among others, the • To enable the following: individual or groups of • Management Development individuals in the • Supervisory Development community to • Policy Review and Formulation continue to provide • Organization & Human Resource Development tourism-related Track 3 – While Track 1 will be required for all those products to satisfy the who wish to go into business or undertake any ever changing needs, income-generating activity, Track 3 will be a specific wants and desires of entrepreneurial competency training program for both its market and those who may need to learn specific skills. Examples supplier. of competency-based training for service providers are: • Travel Service • T our Guiding Service • Homestay Service • Front Office Service • Health Care Service • Commercial Cooking • Food and Beverage Service • Baking/Pastry Production • Housekeeping • Bartending • Fish Capture • Food Processing • Driving • Performing Arts • Crafts Production Track 4 – This track will consist of seminars, fora, or

short courses of general interests such as: _ Disaster Preparedness _ Emergency & Rescue _ Waste Management • Environmental Protection and Preservation • Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaigns for Tourism • Bohol History and Culture • Ecotourism & Sustainable Development

Appendix 7 Environmental Management and Conservation Strategies

Environmental Management Strategies Strategies for Conservation Terrestrial Developments • Identification of issues and concerns in heritage • Maintenance and administrative houses should conservation be separated from tourist facilities • Preparation and identification of management and • Information centers, exhibits and viewing areas protective measures for the sustainability of should be arranged in a sequential order which heritage such as conservation guidelines directs a one directional flow of traffic. • Identification and prioritization of heritage as • Eco-techniques such as the utilization of solar tourism resources power, water resources, natural ventilation, food- • Definition of the significance of the heritage for generating capacities must be incorporated into the purpose of re-valuing it and as an instrument the planning of tourist spots. for tourism • The design of the area should include controlled • Identification of possible linkages in tourism access points and cabins, nature trails, visible planning for the sourcing of resources for heritage signs, observation towers and unpretentious but conservation work comfortable lodging and dining arrangements. • Roads and paths should be unobtrusive and follow the contours of the land. • The construction of roads should take into consideration its effects on the wildlife and the slope stabilities of the area (WTO and UNEP, 1992). Coastal and Marine Developments • Site identification of resort areas and the delineation of land uses should be reviewed for infrastructure development. • Minimum set-backs between buildings and facilities must be observed. • Public recreation facilities such as swimming pools, restaurants and shopping stalls must be located near and facing the beach. • Accommodation facilities must be situated farther from the shore, preferably on hills that offer a panoramic view of the coastline. • Man-made structures must be as unobtrusive as possible, designed to blend with the natural environment and the dominant building styles of the area. • Service facilities such as parking lots, loading and unloading zones, utility areas, staff housing and the like should not distract from the main features of the area nor block the scenery of the mountains, the beach and the sea. • Special features such as hills, promontories, steep banks, cliffs, rock formations and other landforms should be preserved and not graded down, removed or flattened. • Trees and other vegetation cover should not be cleared or unnecessarily cut down or disturbed. • Beach areas should be clean and suitable for

swimming and sunbathing. Jagged rocks, dead corals, seaweeds and other obstructions must be removed to ensure the safety of vacationers. • The marine environment should be preserved and left in their natural state. Coral reefs should be designated as managed conservation zones open only to sustainable fishing and tourism activities. • Buffer zones should be designated around each cluster of tourism sites. Setbacks should be allowed for developments along the beachfront and coastlines to allow for the beach's natural function as the dissipator of high energies and a protection of the inland areas. • Plants and other landscaping elements may be used to enhance the visual appeal of the development area. • The use of exotic (introduced species) should be avoided. Instead, endemic plant species should be used. • The number of allowable rooms and guests in a given tourist spot should be determined and strictly followed. • Adequate parking spaces should be allowed and designed to maximize the available space. • The proper maintenance of the cleanliness of the facilities must be done on a regular basis. The popularity of tourist spots is also affected by its standards of sanitation (UNDP, 1991).

Appendix 8 Management, Cultural and Socio-economic, and Institutional Constraints and Limitations

General Contstraints Limitations to Natural Resources Management • The culture of ecotourism has not yet seeped into • Minimal knowledge, appreciation or the consciousness of the Boholanos. understanding of biodiversity. • Service in tourism establishments is still generally • Rapid rate of species decline and habitat below and lags behind world- class facilities of destruction. neighboring cities. • Soil erosion, coastal erosion and sedimentation. • Inadequate basic infrastructure tourism support • Reef destruction due to dynamite/cyanide fishing. facilities e.g. road networks, water and power • Overfishing, illegal fishing practices. supply, etc. • No karst landscape management. • Insufficient accommodation and other tourism- • Rampant hunting in many areas. related facilities especially in popular tourist • Illegal cutting of trees and timber poaching destinations/sites. continues. • Limited degree of necessary business • Inadequate knowledge from scientific research as skills/know-how, experience and business to flora and fauna species, population size and acumen of local people and meager financial location in Bohol. resources. • Pollution and exhaustion of water tables causes • Carrying capacity of tourist sites/ establishments destruction of the valuable aquifers. has not yet been determined. • Replacement of forest and agricultural lands with • Local people in the communities claim that they monocultures of exotic species. have not enjoyed/partaken in the benefits of • Bio —prospecting and bio-safety. tourism development. • Illegal collection and selling of wildlife. • Difficulty in private sector participation in local • Few programs to protect and conserve the flora community activities/business enterprise and fauna of the island province. especially in marketing and promotion, private • Protected area boundaries show little relation to sector not in accord with local communities forest boundaries and need to be demarcated. decisions; therefore, linkage with the tourism • Non-systematic approach to water resource industry in particular tour operators/marketing management. agents needs significant strengthening. • No comprehensive involvement of all • Local governments’ clamor that they do not stakeholders in the management process. generate any incremental revenues from tourism • Lack of coordination in policy-making other than those mandated for other industries development planning and management. such as business license, income tax or business • Information management not sustained or permit. absence of website at the Provincial Tourism • Government feels that it has not recovered its Office. investment in tourism-related infrastructure facilities. • Weakness in law enforcement in regards to illegal activities (e.g. damage to coral reefs, wild life trading, illegal logging). • Insufficient standards and guidelines, transformed into local ordinances. • Wide gap on the education side on ecotourism. • Absence of comprehensive of flora and fauna inventories in Bohol. • Poor implementation of policies, legislation intended to propel the progress of tourism operations, perceived non-interest of some local government units or conflicting and divergent

roles/development direction of LGUs. • Support industries i.e. souvenir production, food production/ processing, cut flowers, raw material production are not established yet. • Municipal LGUs lack the guide on how to develop their ecotourism potentials.

Appendix 9 V-M-G-O

Vision Mission Goals Guiding Objectives Principles Be the country’s To educate, 1) Well-planned 1) Generate local 1) T o put in place prime eco-cultural empower and quality employment mechanisms that tourist destination encourage developed and increase the are where visitors can Boholano pride so ecotourism revenues in the environmentally- experience and be that its people will destinations and municipalities sustainable, inspired by the conserve programs that without economically- Boholano biodiversity and promote, compromising viable, and Religiosity and manage the contribute to the natural- socially-equitable Hospitality, sustainable use of and educate based assets of in order to bring enhanced by our natural and about the locality, and about rich natural and cultural resources biodiversity and thereby development in cultural heritage, towards alleviating environmental harnessing the province that maintained by a poverty, protection, tourism for pro- would redound to community generating rehabilitation poor growth the benefit of committed to revenues for the enhancement, while reducing local moral integrity and people – conservation negative communities, environmental particularly the and wise use of impacts to the especially the soundness communities, local resources. poor. poor and resulting in the governments and 2) Develop 2) Develop marginalized upliftment of the business and a ecotourism framework sectors of society. socio- economic development of a destinations that strategies that 2) To develop well-being of the full potential for embody Bohol’s focus on the world-class Boholanos. sustainable prime economic and tourism products. tourism in Bohol. Ecotourism non- economic 3) To establish resources based benefits and more effective on a destination enhance policy tourism image that is and process information and internationally reform e.g. assistance competitive and expansion of services. attracts key tourism business 4) To develop market opportunities tourism that is segments employment sustainable 3) Provide a world and collective environmentally, class tourist benefits capacity and socially and facilities and building culturally services, through mitigation of sensitive. a well- environmental 5) To develop developed impact professional natural improved social tourism attractions, and cultural manpower improved impact and services. infrastructure increased 6) To Implement facilities, participation in ecotourism plans efficient tourism local planning, to provide assistance, and a developing sustainable well-disciplined formal and growth and citizenry informal development of

linkages and the province partnership with 7) To involve LGUs the poor and and local private communities in investors/ the identification, operators and planning, governments. development and 3) Increase promotion of awareness priority eco- among all cultural tourism stakeholders as sites to the 8) To mount an importance of aggressive biodiversity tourism conservation promotion and 4) Ensure that marketing tourism campaigns for development Bohol as an does not exceed ecological-cultural the social and tourism environmental destination within limits of and outside the acceptable country change as 9) To determined by institutionalize researchers in innovative and cooperation appropriate with local monitoring and residents evaluation 5) Identify and systems for recommend ecotourism and suitable eco- biodiversity tourism sites conservation and products programs that would 10) To preserve and provide greater revitalize cultural economic gains heritage and in livelihood associated sites benefits and engaged the poor people in the community in decision- making. 6) Emphasize the need for tourism zoning and visitor management plans for sites that will be developed as eco-destinations

7) Use environmental and social base- line data, as well as long-term monitoring programs, to assess and minimize negative impacts 8) Promote local styles of architecture and infrastructure that are developed in harmony with the Boholano culture and environment, that use local materials, minimize energy consumption and conserve local plants and wildlife

Appendix 10 Eco-tourism and Biodiversity Conservation Strategies

Eco-tourism Strategies Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation • In consonance with the National Ecotourism • To conserve and protect wildlife species and their Strategy under the National Ecotourism Program, habitats to promote ecological balance and provide an integrated and coordinated mechanism enhance biological diversity. for partnerships among government, the private • To regulate the collection and trading of flora and and business sectors, the local communities and fauna. tourists to ensure the industry’s viability and • To initiate and support scientific studies to competitiveness in the long run. strengthen the conservation of biological • Establish networking of key ecotourism sites both diversity. in product development and marketing thereby • To enhance the conservation and protection of maximizing the economic gains of the host biodiversity resources through comprehensive IEC communities. Implement a monitoring system to programs throughout the province. control and address environmental, socio-cultural • To harmonize research with conservation need and economic tourism impacts. including comprehensive surveys prior to • Channel technical assistance to ecotourism establishment of ecotourism facilities. projects to assist the management of the • To institutionalize innovative but appropriate ecotourism destinations. monitoring and evaluation systems for • Access financial assistance for local communities biodiversity conservation. by linking them to financial institutions. • Establish wildlife corridors to connect forest • Coordinate with national agencies and other fragments or similar ecosystems. funding organizations. • T o provide provincial, municipal, barangay • Develop standards, certification and accreditation legislation to support biodiversity conservation, schemes for ecotourism products to improve for example enforcement of existing wildlife laws sustainability, performance of accommodation e.g. no hunting through a province-wide facilities and provide consumers with reliable ordinance. expectations and advice before booking. • To encourage an increase in biodiversity in • Integrate ecotourism in overall policies and farming, agro-forestry and forest programs. programs at the local level, particularly in • To protect habitats through development of disseminating information, enhancing awareness specific management plans,e.g. MPA and education. Management Plans. • Intensify IEC activities to raise the level of • To involve LGUs and local communities in awareness of stakeholders. biodiversity management. • Enhance existing and develop strong ecotourism • T o include tourism issues in biodiversity products and create models for sustainable strategies and integrate ecotourism plans in planning and management of ecotourism and protected area management, especially protected other forms of nature-based tourism that will areas which do not fall under the NIPAS as they do demonstrate ways for local communities to not have the resource allocation in place for engage in commercially viable though non- conservation and habitat protection. exploitative and demonstrate sustainable • To apply zoning in destinations, strict zoning in utilization of natural resources. protected areas to control ecotourism activities • Conduct training and capability building activities and to allow conventional tourism to take place in and ensure sustained tourism services training different zones. programs for the ecotourism industry’s manpower • To preserve island ecosystems and endangered Enforce control mechanism and monitoring of eco- species through proper site management, quality using a participatory approach. rehabilitation of original habitats by reintroducing • Rally for strict law enforcement (national, native species and replacement of introduced provincial laws and local ordinances) to protect species. Bohol’s natural, cultural, and human resources.

• Establish guidelines and transform them into obligatory regulations. • Establish tourism visitor centers to assist and inform tourists.

Appendix 11 Programs

Program Program Goals Location/Coverage Area Product Development and -Local destination development Existing: Buenavista, Candijay, Enhancement Program -Development of eco-cultural Maribojoc, Cortes, Panglao, Dauis and agri-tourism products and Baclayon (BMT), Ubay, Sierra- - Continuous assessment/ Bullones, Batuan, Bilar evaluation of local tour destinations (new and existing) Marketing and Promotions - Marketing and promotional Regional , National and Program for existing ecotourism campaigns International products - Production of promo collaterals Province-wide Banacon Island - Bohol Tourism/Ecotourism web site development - Participation in travel marts and fairs - Publications in travel magazines and guide books -Familiarization tours of media and local and foreign travel/tour agencies Sustainable Capability and - Seminars/Skills trainings for Province-wide Attitudinal Enhancing Program tourism service providers (front for Boholano Tourism liners to property users) Practitioners - Cross visits to competitive tourism destinations Bohol Sustainable Tourism - To develop standards/ guidelines Province-wide Development and Management for sustainable operations of Program ecotourism sites/activities/facilities -To put in and consolidate all existing projects and incorporate ecotourism areas at infancy stage; -To create a system of monitoring these sites and address concerns & needs; - To incorporate the diverging development directions -To provide technical assistance and coordinate with national agencies & other funding organizations in sustainable tourism development Bohol Marine Triangle (BMT) Establish community-based Panglao, Dauis and Baclayon Ecotourism Development and Ecotourism projects for livelihood Marketing Program and resource stewardship Abatan River Community Life -Develop community-based Cortes, Maribojoc, Balilihan, Tours Sustainable tourism Enterprises Antequera, Catigbian and livelihoods -Capacitate host community

groups with needed skills PACAP-FOCAS 2 -Reduce poverty and improve Albur, Loboc, Sevilla, Bilar, standard of poor communities in 7 Batuan, Anda, Sierra-Bullones towns of Central-Eastern Bohol -Establish community-based ecotourism products/destinations Customer Service Skills -Institutionalize customer service Province-wide but initially in Improvement Program for the skills enhancement in the tourism tourism centers of Tagbilaran City Tourism Industry establishments and Panglao

Appendix 12 Proposed Thematic Tour Packages for LGUs in District 1

LGUs/District 1 Theme Area (Barangay) Albuquerque Municipal Marine Park Santa Fe Antequera Abatan River & Forest Management Zone, Mountain Ecolodge and Riverside, Antequera Nature Trail Baclayon Pamilacan Dolphin and Whale Pamilacan Island and Mindanao Watching Sea Calape Basihan Mangrove Base San Isidro Ecotourism Lawis Marine Park Lawis Talisay Board Walk Talisay Giant Clam Reserve Lomboy Calape Group of Sanctuaries Poblacion Catigbian Dagook Falls, Catigbian Satellite Village Center Corella Tarsier Nature Trail and Nature Cancatac ! Center Development/Craft Village Tanday Balisawa Hill Cortes Community Life Tours (Mangrove Mangrove Areas of Abatan River Loops Abatan River) in Maribojoc Bay Dauis MPA Management Hinagdanan San Isidro, Dao, Bingag ! Cave Bingag Loon Loon Rowers and Wildlife Refuge Moalong River, Poblacion, Cabilao Loon Time Walk Loon Karst & and Sandingan Islands Island Adventure Maribojoc Community Life Tour of Abatan Upper de la Paz, Punta Cruz River Estuarine Ecology and Maribojoc Historical Monument Panglao Marine Protected Areas Cat Island Sikatuna Sung-on Underpass Cave Libjo Cave Tubigon Tubigon’s Gateway Island Life and Batasan Island, Panggapasan Seascape Island, Bilang-bilangan Island Tagbilaran City Park Mabaw Reef Sitio Ubos – Kabawan, ! Old Tagbilaran Manga, Poblacion

Appendix 13 Proposed Thematic Tour Packages for LGUs in District 2

LGUs/District 2 Theme Area (Barangay) Clarin Alimono Peak Fishermen’s Tour of Buangan 3 islets Balilihan Cawasan Falls Camagao Falls Mt. Cabad, San Isidro Carmel Hill Balilihan Municipal Park and Plaza Hanopol Mini Hydro Historical Watchtower Bien Unido Danajon Reef Dive Site Beach Bilangbilanagan Is., Puerto San Resort Development Pedro Buenavista Cambuhat River Marine Protected Areas Mt. Kampaningao Cantores Shrine Dagohoy Kawasan Falls Mt. Camagay Lahug Cave Danao Dagohoy Caves, River & Forest Magtangtang Adventure: Thrive Dagohoy history, Explore Danao’s Forest Reserve, Cradle of the longest revolt Getafe Banacon Mangrove Maze & Sea Banacon Island shore Bird Watching Danajon Double Barrier Reef & Sand Bars Inabanga Inabanga River Cruise and Island Inabanga River, Cuaming Island, Adventure Panahugan Island, Bugatosan Island Pres. Garcia Marine Protected Area in Pong Gamay Islet and Bhutan Islet Batarya Rocks and White Beaches Protected Landscape and Seascape San Isidro Kilab Kilab Falls Sagbayan Chocolate Hills Bayong Spring Sagbayan Peak and Heaven Hills Naga Falls and Motong Talinis San Miguel Exploring San Miguel Watershed Kagawasan, Tomac and Water Trail Talibon Talibon Marine Wildlife Sanctuary Cataban Island, Sag Island, and Park Bansan, San Roque, San Agustin, Balintawak, San Pedro, San Isidro Trinidad Trinidad Adventure with Forest St. Tomas, San Isidro, San Isisdro Wildlife and Cascades ! Demo Farm ! Twin Peaks ! Mini Rice Terraces ! Kawasan Falls Ubay Ubay Agri Park Ubay Mini Aqua San Vicente Park Beaches

Appendix 14 Proposed Thematic Tour Packages for District 3

LGUs/District 3 Theme Area (Barangay) Alicia La Hacienda, Alicia, Juawangan La Hacienda Cave/Spring & Mountain Resort with Forest Wildlife Anda Exploration of Anda Seaside Candabong, Virgen, Bacong, Archeological Caves and White Poblacion, Suba, Talisay, Sand Beaches Limawan, Badiang Bilar Logarita Spring Adventure Logarita Butterlfy Dome Magsaysay Park Nature Center Biodiversity Complex Center Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape Man-made Forest Bilar Peak Bird Sactuary Tinugdan Spring Batuan Makapiko Nature Park/River Rizal, Rosariohan, Cambacay, Trekking Rajah Sikatuna Protected Aloja, Sta Cruz & Garcia, Landscape Chocolate Hills Balay Poblacion Sur, Sta Cruz, Pob. sa Humay Norte, Pob. Vieja & Cambacay, Abijilan Spring Kamanayon Mt. Janlud, Cabacnitan, Timberland Range Bud Tinuli Karst Walk areas Botanical Garden Cultural Collectives (Rondalla, etc) Candijay Kawasihan Coastal Environment & Cogtong Bay, Can-olin, Wildlife Appreciation Tour Panadtaran Nasarok Hill Wildlife Exploration & Cultural Heritage Tour Candijay Mangrove Adventure Tour Carmen Chocolate Hills Viewpoint Buenos Aires, La Paz, Lasang Horseback and Carabao Riding Lasangan, Nueva Vida, Buenos Pottery and Furniture Products Aires Lasang Nature Springs Montesunting Mini-Forest Fatima Holy Rosary Dimiao Pahangog Twin Falls Cavern Guingoyoran, Nueva Vida, Buenos Balbalan Beach Badiang Heights Aires Ermita Ruins Mac Arthur’s Cap Century’s-old Roman Catholic Church Duero Primary Limestone Forest with Angilan, Taytay Nature Interpretive Center and Adventure Trail Camp Verde Historical Landmark Eskaya Tribe Anibonagn Massacre Site Garcia- Hernandez Garcia Hernandez Roman Catholic Poblacion, Roxas , Calma, Church Roxas Park Seven Heaven Cambuyo, Poblacion, W-

Hill Canayaon, Manaba, Ughuban Spring Cambuyo Rice Cagwang, West Ulbuja, Tabuan Terraces Beaches Tambuko Cave and Lagoon Our Lady of Nation Shrine River Trekking (Anito Hanging Bridge) Guindulman Coastal Burial Caves & Reef Basdio Exploration Basdio Jagna Virgen sa Barangay Shrine Ilijan Hill, Poblacion, Cabungaan, Kinahugan Falls Batong Buhay Larapan, Lonoy, Odiong, Resort Lonoy Martyr Site Poblacion Ka Eyang Cave Jagna Rizal Park Loay Loay Rio Vista Church Heritage Sitio Ubos, Calvario Tour Loboc Loboc River Cruise Busai Falls Tontonan Falls Kruz Daku Pilgrimage Site Man-Made Forest Sug-ong Mountain Trek Lila Lila Rice Terraces Tinubgan Spring Tiguis Tiguis Swimming Pool Mabini San Vicente Ferrer Pilgrimage Site Merong Hill Lumislis Island Viewing Agro-Tourism Development Pilar Man-made Lake Malinao Dam Poblacion, San Vicente and Philippine Civil Service Bayong Pamacsalan, Lumbay, San Commission Centennial Forest Vicente, Poblacion, Lundag, Park Wojok-wojok Pamacsalan Inaghuban, San Vicente River Auguis Ancestral Home Virgen del Pilar Shrine Municipal Plaza Fatima Cave Catugpa Cave Sagnap Spring Sierra Bullones Dakit Municipal Park Bugsoc Falls Mabugnaw Spring Sierra Bullones Ecotour San Isidro Cave Kaaki Spring Valencia Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape Badiang Spring Punta Gorda Trail Bohol Marine Triangle Biodiversity Escapade: Pamilacan Is, Balicasag Is + small -Marine Wildlife & Seascape islets, Dauis area, Panglao area Watch -Reef and Islet Exploration -Dauis Rocky Shore Loop -Panglao Coastal Landscape and White Beaches Trail

Appendix 15 Tourism Sector MSME Development Plan of Bohol

Prioritized Strategies PPAs (Regular, Targets Responsible Gap Existing, Quantity/Timeline Agency Additional) Outcome: Business Environment No • Integration of • Review Provincial • Provincial May — • BTO, PTC , BEC Mandatory accreditation Tourism Code Tourism Code November, TWG on Tourism standards of processes reviewed/ 2011 service • Harmonize amended

tourism manual • IRR Formulated

No (national and • Formulate IRR and SP issued a Accrediation provincial laws) Resolution for its • Formulate adoption appropriate • strong advocacy/ policies/standar regulation for • DENR/BEMO/ ds for price and environmental LGUs/ PTC tourism responsibility services among all tourism industry players

Long and Streamline Bohol One Stop Mandatory May – Dec. BIPC, BOHOL BOSS tedious application Shop (BOSS) agencies to sit GOVERNING process of process regularly in the BOARD business BOSS or provide permit on-line application transactions which Business permit and are user-friendly DTI, DILG, BIPC licensing system (BPLS) Revise requirements appropriate for Pos citizen’s charter Full May – Dec, DILG, CIVIL SERVICE implementation by 2011 COMMISSION all LGUs High cost of • Promote new Abatan areas New tourism sites May – DOLE, BIPC, land in tourism Anda promoted and at December, PROCESS, DOT, Panglao investment Cabilao least 1 investor per 2011 BTO, DTI, PTC, LGUs sites other than site. Panglao • Popularize Bohol strategic framework/ roadmap • Improve information/ promotion among the

circuits thru data banking and networking Lack of • Info drive • Advocacy on fair BUSWACC, political will • Legislate food trade principles PMSMEDC, ITS to implement safety and GMP SAFE fair trade, throughout the • Popularize SMEDC, DTI labor province Magna-Carta for standards and SME to ensure environmenta equal l laws opportunities and rights of SMEs are protected in tourism and development DTI, DOT • Symposium/open forum, Caravan Non- Intensive IEC on RA # 9178 BaMBE Law Starting implementati BaMBE Law (BaMBE Law) implemented by last qtr of on of BaMBE LGUs 2011 Law Tourism Ensure equal • BPLS streamlining All LGUs to May-Dec DTI, LGU development opportunity to implement BPLS 2011 sometimes SMEs in affected • Local Tax holidays LGUs, BIPC, results to areas doing/ PMSMEDC isolating small implementing businesses tourism development Outcome: Access to Finance Need for Fund sourcing Access funds from At least 2 PPPs July – Dec. PROCESS, DOLE, funds to (public/Private/ LGUs, F.A.; forged 2011 DTI, LGUs, NGOs, develop Fas funds) thru livelihood grants Pos, PMSMEDC tourism PPP such as DOLE sites/attractio Investment Poverty Alleviation ns promotion for Program (PAP), tourism WEED, PRESSED, Council to lobby Tulay program, for financial WIN-AP institutions to provide easy access to finance projects Outcome: Access to Markets Need for • Creation of • Provision of TA to At least 3 tour July – Dec, DOLE, BIPC, additional tour packages identified sites for packages 2011 PROCESS, DOT, tourism within the the creation of operational BTO, DTI, PTC, LGUs activities that tourism circuits new tour “add more • Planning and packages. At least 5 CBST value” to product sites developed existing development/e and operational historical/nat nhancement • Watershed

55 ural sites and development: BEMO to include Inabanga, Loboc new sites in and Carood the tour circuits • Product DAR, DOT development and Promotion; • Product enhancement training for the Pos – native products • Promotion of home hotel in the ARC (homestay program) Lack of • Promote • Encourage CBST At least 5 CBST April- PROCESS, DOLE, marketing community- to participate in sites developed December, BTO, TESDA, LGUs, and based tourism the travel trade and operational 2011 DTI, DOT promotional • Provide fairs support for marketing • FamTours for community support to Travel Trade and based tourism popularize Media community- based tours • Increase marketing support to community- based tours Need for Establishment The Fair Trade Shop At least 1 June – BIPC, BTO, common area and operation of –Bohol in Tagbilaran pasalubong center December PS/MSMEs to display a display area for (catering CB exclusively selling 2011 Bohol Bohol Products products) Bohol products products PPP installed/ established in major strategic tourism sites and operational. Outcome: Productivity and Efficiency Sub-standard • Continuous Skills training as At least 3 subsector April – BISU, TESDA, BTO, workforce capability part of the trained and December DOT skills building for the community capacitated 2011 workforce to extension program; meet global offer short term standards courses on culinary • To train arts workers in the tourism industry t be globally

competitive • Upgrade education of service providers skills dev’t. (frontliners/ food handlers) • Capacity building (training, IEC, etc. on tourism skills, development promotion, environmental maters, etc.) • Matching environment with industry needs Available TESDA, BTO, DOT instrument for assessment and certification of workers in the tourism sector; available training institutions with registered programs in the tourism sector; available scholarship program for the sector; available standards on curriculum in the tourism sector for program registration and implementation

capacity building PROCESS, DOLE, and product DTI, BTO enhancement to people’s organizations Labor Human DOLE Relations Productivity(LHRP) advocacy seminar for SMEs

Technical TESDA, BCCI, PAO, consultancies on DAR, DOST, DTI foods; food handling and safety seminars for SMEs); assistance on BFAD (FDA) registration; commissary services Small Enterprises DOST technology upgrading program (set-up) SME “Skills Training DTI, PGBh, BCCI, Advocating for BEPO Reliance on Self- employment ” (STARS) awards QMS for small DTI business Some sites Implementation Formulation of BTO, PTC, DOT, are promoted of Tourism Site Tourism Site LGUs by LGUs even Classification Classification if they are not Standards Standards Criteria ready yet Need to Lobby for standardize legislations pricing of setting transpo transportation pricing standards Services in Lobby for facilities/ legislations amenities are enforcing not standards for standardized services/facilities/ amenities

Appendix 16 Tourism Sector Prioritized Gaps

Level of Business Enabling Access to Market Access to Finance Productivity and Competitveness Environment Efficiency Meta "Me Too" attitude in product development Short term business perspective as exhibited by rampant price undercutting among subsectors e.g. tours, transport Macro Need for industry standards and mandatory accreditation regulations Lack of political will to implement fair trade, labor and environmental laws Meso High cost of land in Need for additional Lack of Work force skills Panglao Island tourism activities appreciation and are not up to inhibits the flow of that "add more support of LGUs international investments value" to existing for community standards historical/natural based tourism sites and to include projects new sites in the tour circuits Lack of marketing and promotional support for community based tourism Need for Ease in Some sites Registering promoted by LGUs Businesses even if they are not ready resulting in poor customer satisfaction Micro Long and tedious Micro/Small Improve ability to process in business Enterprises access funds to permit application sometimes have a develop tourism hard time in sites/attractions participating in the Tourism VC

Need for common area to display Bohol products Transport group not implementing agreed pricing policy resulting in negative feedback from tourists. Cut throat competition resulting in price cutting to the detriment of community based tours Trend for "Me Too" tourism products resulting in loss of USP and market dilution e.g. zip lines

Appendix 17 Customer Satisfaction Survey Results

In Percent Very Good Good Average Poor Very Poor NA Accommodation Value for Money 12 56 24 8 1 Complaints Mgt 5 41 12% 1 1 38 Service Attitude of Staff 40 47 9 4 Cleanliness and Pest Control 11 60 17 10 2 1 Bathroom Standard and 8 45 21 24 2 Maintenance Airconditioner 13 60 15 5 2 4 Guestroom Appearance 8 63 15 11 3 Garden and Landscaping 35 25 14 11 3 11 Maintenance and Repair 14 55 23 8 Building Standards 63 14 19 5 Adventure Value for Money 14 28 21 31 6.9 Service Attitude of Staff 31 38 28 3 Quality of Instruction and 7 52 31 10 Training Safety and Maintenance 72 17 10 Attractions Safety Measures 6 56 29 5 1 6 Environmental Protection 18 56 12 2 2 11 Infrastructure 5 47 23 16 2 4 Information and Signage 3 51 24 19 1 1 Traffic and Air Polllution 5 40 21 9 3 22 Waste Water Disposal 11 15 2 72 Solid Waste Disposal 3 30 22 18 27 Unspoiled Character of the 38 44 7 7 3 1 environment Availability of Parking 5 36 26 16 2 14 Diving Value for Money 18 48 18 15 Service Attitude of Staff 36 42 15 6 Quality of Instruction and 6 48 9 32 6.06 Training Safety and Maintenance 6 75 9 9 Handicrafts Value for Money 28 17 56 Service Attitude of Staff 17 50 17 6 11 Uniqueness of Products 17 44 17 22 Variety of Products 17 50 17 11 6 Tour Guiding Value for Money 22 34 6 25 6 Service Attitude 38 53 6 6 Communication Skills 22 34 6 25 6 Environmental Protection 6 66 15.63 3 9

Observed Tour Guide Knowledge 35 53 6 6 Tour Operators Value for Money 11 56 18 15 Service Attitude of Staff 44 36 13 7 Environmental Protection 11 55 20 9 2 Observed Comfort and Cleanliness 4 62 24 4 2 Attractiveness of the Tour 25 62 9 4 Package Transportation Value for Money 4 36 28 29 3 Selling Behavior 4 21 32 33 5 5 Pollution Control 1 28 41 27 3 Safety 3 41 33 21 1.33 Comfort 7 35 36 21 1.33

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ALTURAS GROUP UNVEILS PANGLAO SHORES, A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA | Motourismo

By monch henares.

Philippine conglomerate Alturas Group unveiled a bold new vision for development on the island of Bohol with the launch of Panglao Shores, a 25 billion pesos (USD477 million) investment in a once-in-a-generation 50-hectare mixed-use project conceptualized by global leaders in sustainability and master-planning. 

The creative project was born from humble beginnings. The pandemic created many challenges for businesses and led to hardship and layoffs. Alturas on the other hand retained all their staff, however, repurposing them into sometimes unfamiliar roles as they built South Farm to support local communities. 

Everyone, from the management team to the resort staff including food & beverage and housekeeping personnel, made an effort and got their hands dirty at farming, fish culture, furniture making, weaving, mural painting, pottery, and other odd, but very inspiring farm jobs. After 6 months, they all found their hand labor niche and became masters in what they set out to do.

Over time, it became a sustainability incubator, a place to meet, practice, experiment, cultivate resources, plant trees, and store materials such as recycled wood. It evolved into a place that simply and most meaningfully represented the essence of the inclusive culture and community ethos of the Alturas. South Farm was to become the inspiration for the entire Panglao Shores development which marks sustainability, community, and local culture as its guiding principles. 

The success and spirit engendered at South Farm left a deep impression on the Alturas Group. It was founded in Bohol by the Uy family, and from this seed, a wider vision for the future was developed with the help of London-based sustainability experts, XCO2, and master planners SCSY whose head office is located in Singapore.

“It was an epiphany for us, a real moment of awakening,” said Hope Uy, CEO of Panglao Shores. “The realization was that here was an opportunity to create a generational product, inspired by Bohol, on a scale that would enable a fully-integrated community to flourish with sustainability at its core,” she added.

BLUEPRINT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

The result is a low-density, mixed-use development infused with the nature of Bohol, created for domestic and international buyers, integrating six hotels and resorts, 37,000sqm of retail and commercial space, over 1,000 residential units, and an international medical facility, while seamlessly weaving sustainability and social responsibility into the fabric of the project and the wider destination.

Conceived by Panglao Bay Premiere Parks & Resorts Corp. (PBPPRC), a subsidiary of the Alturas Group of Companies (AGC), the project is located on the southern coast of Panglao, just off the coast of Bohol, and is a flagship project under the Tourism Infrastructure & Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), which are designed to deliver outstanding economic and social benefits to their destinations. 

At the heart of the project are the Town Square Retail Mall & Night Market, a vibrant indoor-outdoor hub of shopping, dining, and entertainment with live performance areas, garden walkways, and courtyards. This will be surrounded by facilities and amenities, including commercial and retail, residential villages, a convention center, co-working spaces, international hotels and resorts, and a beach club all entwined with lush greenery and natural walkways.

International eco-building standards and materials have been incorporated throughout, such as high-performance glass, natural ventilation, and solar harvesting, along with smart technologies, electric transport, water treatment, waste reduction, and the removal of all single-use plastics. Local vendors are supported to sell crafts. Native farmers and fishing communities have been built into the supply chain. Children’s education is supported and coral reefs are protected.

Construction of the 188-room New South Palms Resort is currently underway in Phase 1 with completion scheduled for 2024. Bohol is one of the most exciting destinations for investment and tourism in the Philippines. The island is served by the Panglao Bohol International Airport.

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TIEZA officially turns over approved Siargao Islands Tourism Master Plan

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) led the ceremonial turnover of the Comprehensive Tourism Master Plan (CTMP) of Siargao Islands on 23 June 2022 held in General Luna, Surigao del Norte. The ceremony was graced by outgoing Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco T. Matugas and provincial officers as well as TIEZA Board of Directors.

Envisioned to be “a world-class destination that preserves the environment, celebrates Siargaonon people and values, and provides authentic visitor experiences”, the tourism master planning of the entire Siargao Islands is one of the proactive efforts of TIEZA in the rehabilitation and development of tourist destinations in the country.

TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark T. Lapid thanked all the stakeholders for their active participation in the crafting of the masterplan which includes the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, the local government units in Siargao Island and their officers, DOT XIII Regional Office and other resource persons. “It is our hope that the CTMP shall be of vital use for the people of Siargao towards the establishment of Siargao Islands as a sustainable tourism destination, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and the destruction caused by Typhoon Odette,” he said in his Opening Remarks.

Located 800 kilometers southeast of Manila and situated off the northeastern coast of Mindanao, Siargao has 62,796 hectares of land area and a marine area of 216,118 hectares, which totals to 278,914 hectares of protected landscape and seascape. By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 902, the area is classified as a wildlife sanctuary and is now referred to as Siargao Islands Protected Landscapes and Seascapes (SIPLAS).

SIPLAS remains to be the most visited tourism destination in the province of Surigao del Norte because of its endowed natural attractions such as long stretch of fine white sand beaches, rock formations, lagoons, lakes, springs, caves, and vast area of mangrove forests. As such, it is vital to conduct comprehensive studies and planning in the area in order to maximize its tourism potential but with high regard to its natural environment. As provided in Section 6(o) of Republic Act No. 9593, TIEZA shall provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) in destination development, standard setting, and regulatory enforcement. TIEZA undertook the preparation of the CTMP for SIPLAS through funding from the General Appropriations Act and procured the consultancy services of Palafox Associates.

The CTMP consists of two (2) main strategies, namely the tourism framework strategy and tourism development strategy.

Among the considerations for the tourism framework strategy are the growth markets which include existing and potential tourism markets; enhancing the visitor experience, persevering the natural and cultural resources, providing authentic tourist experience, and continuous improvement of the local’s capabilities as well as necessary infrastructure that would increase the competitiveness of Siargao Islands as a world-class destination. Meanwhile, the tourism development strategy recommended the clustering of Siargao Islands into eight Tourism Management Areas: (1) General Luna referred to as “The Surf Town”; (2) Dapa to be known as “Island Capital”; (3) two barangays of Esperanza as “Gateway and Innovation Hub”; (4) “Western Siargao” consisted of fifteen barangays of Pilar; (5) “Game-Fishing Capital” made up of Pilar’s other fifteen barangays; (6) Burgos and San Isidro as “Nature and Surf Destination”; (7) six barangays of San Benito making up the “Northern Gateway”; and (8) Socorro as “Eco-Adventure Island”.

Other sections of the CTMP include discussions on the Carrying Capacity, Biodiversity Conservation and Protection Plan, Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Sectoral Recommendations, and Tourism Recovery Advisory.

At present, TIEZA has completed and approved the tourism master planning projects of Siargao Islands, Maribojoc Island in Bohol, Fourth District of Leyte, and Corregidor and surrounding islands. TIEZA is also currently undertaking the master planning projects of Bantayan Island and Camotes Island.

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Puyat meets with Bohol execs to tackle tourism situation, recovery plans

Panglao, BOHOL – Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat assured the officials and tourism players of Bohol on Friday that reopening the island province to tourism would not be pursued at the expense of public health and safety.

The tourism chief made the assurance in a press conference after a meeting with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, Bohol Governor Arthur C. Yap, District Representatives including the Father of the Republic Act (R.A.) 9593 or the “Tourism Act of 2009” Cong. Edgar Chatto (1st District), and local chief executives of the 47 towns of the province to discuss the present situation, plans for the local tourism industry’s recovery, and the viability of resuming tourism activity in the island province.

“We will always respect the decision of the LGU in determining when tourism operations should resume. We will always work with you and coordinate with you regarding health and safety standards,” Puyat said, noting the province’s target to open its doors to visitors in the last quarter of the year.

During the dialogue, Governor Yap said the province will be employing the Ultimate Bohol Experience certification system that will award an “UBE Seal” to establishments that are compliant with health and safety protocols. The UBE Seal, inspired by the province’s special food crop–the Ube Kinampay, will complement the DOT’s accreditation system, added the Governor.

Bohol is also finalizing an ordinance that aligns with the existing national laws and tourism guidelines. The ordinance, Yap said, shall prescribe health protocols, determine the carrying capacity of tourism destinations, provide guidance on centralized reservation and payments, and compliance to environmental rules for Bohol.

Together with Secretary Año, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Atty. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco–Allones, and Intramuros Administrator and Head of the Task Force on Domestic Tourism Product and Market Development Atty. Guiller Asido, Puyat inspected health and safety protocols of the DOT–accredited Modala Resort and Bellevue Resort both located in Panglao.

Likewise, the tourism chief went to the Bohol Medical Care Institute (BMCI) to tour its containerized reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) laboratory, one of the RT–PCR laboratories in the province that will soon become operational for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) testing.

Bohol, which is under a Moderate General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) since 1 July 2020, is one of the tourism destinations that the DOT supports through its Transforming Communities towards Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism (TouRIST) Program, and will receive funding and assistance from the World Bank.

Under the TouRIST Program, Puyat said that the DOT shall focus on implementing the following improvements in Bohol: bulk water supply, solid waste management; local economic development like the Assistance to Reinvigorate Tourism (ART) value chain, Palengke Program, and tourism sites enhancement and management; and management support for hygiene preparedness in tourist sites, as well as the provision of decompression chambers and sea ambulances. The first phase of the project will have a total allocation of $62 million.

Puyat shared that in terms of determining so–called “travel” or “tourism” bubbles in the Philippines that may be opened to international tourists once travel restrictions are eased, Bohol is one of the first tourism destinations that come to her mind, given the province’s pool of dedicated leaders, low number of COVID–19 cases, beautiful beaches, resorts, dive spots, and other tourism attractions, and a new international airport situated in Panglao.

“Kapag iniisip ko ngayon ‘yung tourism bubble, naiisip ko agad ‘yung Bohol kasi magaling ‘yung Governor, Mayors, and Congressmen. We have 7,641 islands and twelve international airports. Bohol has its own international airport so pwede nang dumeretso,” Puyat explained.

Published:February 11, 2021

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Filipino tourism frontliners recognized during DOT’s 50th founding anniversary celebration

DOT supports new country brand under the Marcos administration

DOT welcomes the resumption of chartered flights to PHL top destination Boracay

Medical Tourism pushed by Marcos Administration with strategic global partnership – DOT Chief

Frasco meets US filmmakers, media execs to promote Philippine tourism

Record number 1,400 Koreans arrive to Filipino welcome led by Tourism Secretary Frasco

Tourism chief Frasco dives in Puerto Galera, provides alternative livelihood to Oriental Mindoro

Philippine-Turkiye air service deal to boost tourism- DOT Chief

DOT-DOLE Tourism Job Fairs offer more than 8K jobs; 3rd leg set in May

DOT, DOTr jointly conduct inspection at NAIA T2 ahead of Holy Week break

More than 6k jobs up for grabs at DOT’s PHL tourism job fair

Go Negosyo, DOT mount Tourism Summit in Cebu

Business as usual in Puerto Galera; DOT to train tourism workers affected by oil spill for alternative livelihood – Frasco

DOT holds Philippine visa reforms convergence

Philippines hits 260M negotiated sales, bags recognition at the ITB Berlin 2023

DOT chief unveils National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028 at stakeholders’ summit

Frasco meets with Central Europe tourism players, vows prioritization of tourism under Marcos Administration

Philippines comes back with biggest delegation to ITB Berlin, bags sustainable tourism recognitions

Oil Spill affecting tourist sites – DOT Chief

DOT issues guidelines pushing for more openness for tourism enterprises

Tourism chief to lead biggest PHL delegation to ITB Berlin 2023

PHL feted Best Dive Destination anew

New Flights from Clark to boost tourism, decongest NAIA

Frasco lauds Ilocos Norte’s Tan-Ok festival as manifestation of the Philippine Experience’

Frasco: Panagbenga Festival touts Baguio’s tourism resurgence

DOT extends ‘free accreditation’ for tourism establishments

DOT Chief launches Tourism Champions Challenge’ to spur tourism development in LGUs

PHL secures back-to-back nominations at the 2023 World Travel Awards

Frasco convenes first TCC meeting, forecasts full domestic recovery in 2023

Frasco leads groundbreaking of new tourist pit stop to boost Palawan tourism

Frasco leads grand welcome reception for cruise passengers, says ‘PHL aims to be cruise hub in Asia’

Japanese stakeholders bullish of PHL tourism prospects

PBBM, Tourism chief engage Japanese tourism stakeholders in high-level meet in Tokyo

Tourism chief affirms DOT’s support to PH Dev’t Plan 2023-2028

Chinese tourists receive warm welcome from PHL; DOT foresees swifter tourism recovery with Chinese outbound group tour

PHL, CHINA ink tourism implementation deal

PHL breaches 2.6M arrivals for 2022; DOT chief bullish of 2023 projections

DOT lands on Top 3 Highest Approval Rating among Government Agencies; bares targets for 2023

DOT, DICT ink deal for improvement of connectivity in tourist destinations, digitalization of services

DOT, DMW launch newest incentivized tourism promotions campaign

DOT, TIEZA launch 7th Tourist Rest Area in Pagudpud’s Saud Beach

Tourist Rest Area to rise in Bohol

Luzon’s First DOT Tourist Rest Area to Rise In Baguio City

DOT strengthens PHL-Saudi Arabia tourism relations, engages industry key players

Statement of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on the Launch of the e-Travel System

Filipino hospitality, Philippine sustainable tourism highlighted at WTTC Global Summit Saudi Arabia

Frasco welcomes Uzakrota World’s Leading Country Award, PHL destinations’ citations

Frasco eyes more urban parks in the Philippines

DOT’s Frasco is among best-performing cabinet officials- RPMD Survey

Frasco hails first-ever North Luzon Travel Fair as critical to revitalizing tourism; reiterates the Philippines’ readiness for visitors

DOT welcomes long holidays for 2023; PBBM signing of Proclamation No. 90 important stimulus to PHL domestic tourism in 2023: DOT chief

PHL visitor arrivals reach 2M; tourism revenue hit 100B – DOT Chief

Philippines hailed as World’s Leading Dive and Beach Destinations

PHL Tourism Chief initiates tourism cooperation talks with Italian Tourism Minister

Palawan cited “Most Desirable Island” in 21st Wanderlust Travel Award

Outlook for Philippine tourism positive – tourism chief

DOT launches 1st North Luzon Travel Fair

Tourism chief to lead PHL contingent to WTM, brings listening tours to FILCOM in UK

PBBM oks easing of stringent travel restrictions

PHITEX 2022 yields record high 173M sales leads

One Health Pass replaced with PHL’s ‘simpler’ eARRIVAL CARD system

Philippine Experience Caravans to roll out 2023 – Frasco

DOT relaunches Philippine Tourism Awards

DOT exceeds 2022 target arrivals; PBBM rallies support for tourism as admin’s priority sector

Siargao, a priority for Tourism Development — Frasco

STATEMENT OF TOURISM SECRETARY CHRISTINA GARCIA FRASCO

DOT bares tourism wins under PBBM’s first 100 days

Tourist Rest Areas for PHL’s top destination – Cebu

Tourist Rest Areas launched in Mindanao

FY 2023 DOT budget submitted to plenary; Senators press for higher tourism budget

DOT celebrates Philippines’ back to back wins at Conde Naste Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards; Boracay claims spot as top island in Asia anew

Frasco secures CA nod as Tourism Chief

DOT receives HOR nod for P3.573 B budget for 2023

First ever DOT-DOLE nat’l tourism job fair opens

Tourism Chief tackles plans to revive industry, entices foreign investors in New York briefing

PBBM pronouncements at UN meet an “excellent representation” of PHL – Secretary Frasco

DOT-DOLE 1st Philippine Tourism Job Fair pre-registration now open, more than 7k jobs available to tourism job seekers- Sec. Frasco

STATEMENT OF TOURISM SECRETARY CHRISTINA GARCIA FRASCO ON THE LIFTING OF OUTDOOR MASK MANDATE IN THE PHILIPPINES

DOT muling pinarangalan ng Selyo ng Kahusayan sa Serbisyo Publiko 2022

DOT Chief welcomes IATF recommendation to make masking optional when outdoors

Phl scores back to back win in WTA Asia; Intramuros hailed as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction of 2022

Frasco lays out DOT plans and programs for industry recovery; lawmakers bat for higher DOT budget

More than 1,500 tourism jobs to be offered in joint DOT-DOLE job fair

Dot to ink tourism job fair program – trabaho, turismo, asenso with dole; domestic, international jobs to be available to tourism job hunters.

Thailand to offer tourism job opportunities to Filipinos– Frasco

PHL tourism chief pushes for increased connectivity, interoperability of vax certs, equalization of opportunities, and sustainability in APEC tourism ministers’ meet

Philippines strengthens tourism ties with Thailand

DOT TRAINS BOHOL VENDORS ON FILIPINO BRAND OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE

20 intl, local dive and marine experts take centerstage at PHIDEX 2022

Measures in place to ensure safe travel to PHL – Tourism Chief

FRASCO OPTIMISTIC OF PH TOURISM RESURGENCE, LAUDS CEBU TOURISM SUCCESS

Frasco eyes visitor-friendly, “distinctly Filipino” air, seaports in PHL

DOT celebrates Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc. (PADS) Dragon Boat Team historic four gold medal haul

DOT to facilitate interagency effort to strengthen Filipino Brand of Service

DOT to coordinate on quake-hit tourist destinations, heritage sites

PBBM cites tourism as top-priority; orders infra development, enhancement of Filipino brand

DOT chief takes “Listening Tours” to Luzon

DOT Chief affirms support to National Museum of the Philippines; proposes inclusion of museums in tourism circuits

Boracay, Palawan and Cebu hailed World’s Best Islands; DOT celebrates back-to-back accolades for PHL destinations

Marcos push for Tourism Infra strengthens industry, raises PHL global position – DOT Chief

DOT lauds Boracay’s inclusion in TIME’s 50 World’s Greatest Places of 2022

DOT lauds Cebu-based group win in int’l dance competition

Statement of tourism secretary christina garcia frasco on banaue.

Tourism Chief Frasco kicks off listening tours in VisMin, encourages officials to reach out to LGUs, stakeholders

Tourism chief Frasco to go on ‘listening tours’ starting this week

Dot reports increase in domestic tourism in 2021.

Incoming tourism chief receives warm welcome from employees, vows to bring “LGU perspective” to DOT

DOT’s Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) returns to Manila next month

First Davao Dive Expo slated on June 24

DOT touts ‘future farms’ as new and sustainable tourist attractions

DOT pitches PHL as ideal retirement destination in Japan Expo

DOT positions New Clark City as premier tourism investment hub

PH’s significant recovery in travel and tourism hot topic in Routes Asia 2022

DOT’s KAIN NA! takes foodies to a multi-sensory adventure

DOT Presents “Escape: Stories from the Road” Podcast

Second (2nd) Online Master TESOL Certification Course

DOT, MMC Foundation partnership brings ER bikes to three Metro Manila tourist sites

DOT spotlights PWDs and women in tourism with new “It’s More Fun for All” campaign

Media release from the department of tourism.

PHL scraps COVID pre-departure test for fully vaccinated, boostered tourists

DENR, DOT and DILG unveil Year of Protected Areas (YoPA) Campaign marking 90th anniversary of Protected Area establishment in the Philippines

Department of Tourism and Mickey Go Philippines introduce Pinoy Mickey Funko Pops

DOT launches “Keep the Fun Going” sustainable tourism campaign with gamified challenges

DOT reminds AEs on proper flag etiquette

DOT 49th Anniversary speech of the Tourism Secretary

DOT pushes for 100% vaccination of active tourism workers

DOT calls for lowering of testing price cap, certification of more saliva test facilities

PHL may be next filming location as Tourism Summit brings in Hollywood execs

WTTC Investment Tour Highlights Viable Opportunities in Clark, Central Luzon

WTTC lauds PH successful hosting of Int’l tourism Summit

Closing and Congratulatory Message during the Closing Ceremony of the 21st WTTC Global Summit of the DOT Secretary

WTTC: ‘Astonishing Recovery’ for Philippines’ tourism sector

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Exhibition Booths

WTTC Opening Ceremony Welcome Remarks of the DOT Secretary

WTTC bullish on PH tourism recovery amid Covid-19 pandemic

PHL Foreign tourist arrivals breach 200k mark – DOT Chief

DOT, partner agencies celebrate Filipino Food Month

WTTC announces speakers for its 21st Global Summit in the Philippines

DOT seeks return of Korean tourists, PH’s top market

DOT inks partnership with PNP, PDEA to beef up security in tourist destinations

DOT Launches Digital Travel Magazine “7641”

PHL says “All systems go for full reopening on April 1”; Removes EED as entry requirement

Phl logs more than 100,000 visitor arrivals since feb. 10 reopening.

DOT meets with Japanese tourism execs to boost inbound tourism arrivals

Statement of the DOT on hotel rooms occupancy guidelines

PH opens doors to all foreign tourists with easing of arrival requirements starting April 1

Travel to PHL is “easier”, more fun – Puyat

DOT Launches “Sounds More Fun in the Philippines” Playlist on Spotify

DOT hopeful on higher tourism growth with downgrading of NCR, 38 areas to Alert Level 1

Intramuros visitors up by 132% in February

DOT bares higher tourist influx since reopening

Dot welcomes iatf approval to accept the national vaxcert of 12 additional countries.

PH receives 9,283 inbound tourists; DOT upbeat on higher arrivals in months ahead

Puyat: Walk-in booster shots available for Boracay visitors

All systems go for PHL reopening for international travel- Puyat

Kids’ vaccination to make family travels safe, more fun

DOT lists requirements and protocols for arriving foreign leisure guests

Save the date for the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in the Philippines

DOT: PH to accept fully-vaxxed tourists from visa-free countries starting Feb. 10

DOT supports ‘Pharmacy and Drive-thru Vaccination Sites’ rollout in Baguio City

DOT Launches “ASMR Experience the Philippines” Project

Dot to hold 2-day conference on english as second language (esl).

PH cities, hotels bag ASEAN tourism awards

Booster shots rolled out for fully vaxxed tourism workers; 50% of NCR hotel staff already “boosted”

DOT trains over 30,000 tourism professionals amid pandemic

Dot welcomes eased travel movement between gcq and mgcq areas for tourism revival, hotel in ‘poblacion girl” fiasco suspended, fined, intramuros gives vulnerable population a breathing space, dot launches website with exclusive travel deals for balikbayans.

Anilao Underwater Shootout stages a successful comeback

DOT’s KAIN NA! makes a comeback in Tagaytay

Dot earns unwto citation for have a safe trip, pinas ad.

Brgy. Bojo in Aloguinsan, Cebu bags UNWTO best tourism village award

More than 95% of tourism workers in dive establishments already vaccinated against covid-19: dot.

DOT: PHL to welcome Int’l tourists soon

Dot welcomes shortened quarantine days for balikbayans, dot asks lgus to simplify entry requirements in tourist spots, miceconnect 2021 positions boracay as asia’s premier bleisure destination, dot releases latest list of domestic destinations waiving rt-pcr tests for fully vaxxed visitors, dot grants incentives to fully vaccinated individuals visiting intramuros.

Statement of the DOT on waiving RT-PCR requirement to Boracay for fully vaxxed tourists

Anilao underwater ‘shootout’ is back

Puyat, dot execs pitch ph tourism in japan travel mart, dot welcomes eased restrictions in mm under alert level 2, free swab tests for domestic tourists starting nov. 1, dot lists destinations without testing requirement, with projected 100% inoculation rate by next month, boracay will soon waive rt-pcr testing for fully vaxxed visitors.

Domestic Travel Welcome-Back: DOT, TPB launch ‘It’s More Fun with You’ ad and ‘Have a Safe Trip, Pinas’ Viber Stickers

22 divers pass dot guide training in anilao.

PH cited Asia’s top beach and dive destination anew in 2021 World Travel Awards

Dot bullish on camiguin’s reopening, boosts covid-19 vax drive, dot clarifies travel guidelines for ncr residents under alert level 4, alert level 3, good for tourism jobs and businesses as holidays near – puyat, 2nd tourism & technology forum: readying for a different future.

DOT vaccination drive for tourism workers continues in Pampanga

Dot welcomes easing of age restrictions for interzonal travel, less quarantine days for travelers an ‘encouraging development’ for tourism industry – puyat.

Vaccination of Rizal tourism workers crucial to industry’s recovery — DOT

Dot welcomes siargao, palawan and boracay win in int’l travel mag awards, over 43k safety seals issued as more businesses apply, dot backs call to shorten quarantine of fully vaxxed travelers, dot calls for cooperation to ensure success of expanded operational capacity of restaurants in ncr.

DOT lauds Samar LGU vax drive for tourism workers

Message of secretary berna romulo-puyat on the celebration of world tourism day, dot ensures compliance of accredited hotels, resorts to new iatf alert level system guidelines.

Cebu vax drive for tourism workers gains traction with more than 50% inoculated

Puyat bares phl hosting of international tourism conference in march 2022.

DOT and TikTok launch #GandaMoPinas Campaign as local borders reopen

Dot invites esl teachers to free online master tesol certification course.

DOT launches “More Fun Awaits” global campaign to showcase travel preps

Statement of the department of tourism (dot), statement of the department of tourism on the inclusion of palawan in t+l’s top islands in asia, world list, more than 50% of country’s tourism workers vaccinated against covid-19 – dot chief, intramuros site visit of dot secretary berna romulo-puyat.

Intramuros sites and Rizal Park to reopen September 16

Philippines boosts participation in expo 2020 dubai, highlights pinoy food, local tourism businesses receive dot, tpb philcare kits.

DOT, partner agencies drive up promotion of Filipino food experience

More than 7.5k tourism workers in Baguio have received Covid vax – Tourism Chief

Dot, tpb distribute p19m worth of materials to promote safety protocols.

DOT, NTF bring vaccination rollout for tourism workers in Siargao Island

DOT: 95% of tourism workers in NCR vaxxed vs Covid-19

Sustainability is key to tourism industry’s recovery — puyat, dot lauds private sector for vaccine rollout in el nido.

PHITEX 2021: Beyond Business slated for September 19-23

Puyat leads vaccination drive for Pampanga tourism workers

More than 75% of Bohol tourism workers eyed for inoculation with second vaccine roll-out

More than 70% of tourism frontliners in metro manila vaccinated vs covid-19 — puyat.

DOT and TPB SUCCESSFULLY STAGED FIRST-EVER HYBRID EDITION OF THE REGIONAL TRAVEL FAIR

Dot, bpos to hold job fair, statement of the department of tourism.

DOT targets increased inoculation of tourism workers in more destinations

Puyat: More vaccines coming for Palawan tourism workers

Dot statement on nesthy petecio’s silver medal finish in the tokyo 2020 olympics, rizal park drive-thru vax site opens; puyat hails manila’s anti-covid initiative, dot gets highest coa rating for 2nd straight year, statement of the department of tourism on the passing of heritage and cultural tourism advocate mr. ramon hofileña, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the heightened community quarantine level implementations in ncr, more tourism workers in boracay to receive covid-19 jabs – dot, dot reiterates call for safe travel amid stricter quarantine measure, dot reminds hotels, resorts that room sharing for quarantined families is allowed, dot celebrates siargao inclusion in time magazine as one of the world’s greatest places of 2021, dot launches halal food tourism, dot backs gov’t infra program to boost tourism, dot backs iloilo bid for ‘creative city of gastronomy’ recognition from unesco, statement of the department of tourism on iatf decision allowing children five years old and above, and fully vaccinated seniors to visit outdoor areas, dot partners with viber to promote kain na foodfest, dot: 3,000 boracay tourism workers to receive covid vax, dot, tpb continues to support lgus with digital transformation projects, dot teams up with scarlet belo and cartoon network to take safe trips, dot statement on the activities of the taal volcano, bakuna by the sea: dot hails davao’s innovative approach to travel, hospitality workers, dot, tpb to roll out 2nd phase of rt-pcr financial subsidy program through pcmc, dot unveils region 1 tourism recovery plan, statement of the department of tourism on the drop of tourism contribution to gdp, dot to co-stage virtual fête de la musique june 18-21, more ncr tourism workers receive support through dot-dole program, travel for tourists of all ages from ncr plus to boracay, other mgcq areas extended to june 30, dot eyes inoculation of 5,000 bohol tourism workers, museums in ncr plus to reopen on limited capacity – dot, dot turns food tourism to high heat with 2021 kain na, terms for tourism business loans eased, dot bares tourism recovery plans for bulacan, dot and tiktok launch #sarapmagingpinoy campaign to promote local food tourism, dot launches five-year plan to develop tourism professionals, dot celebrates world environment month, highlights responsible marine wildlife interactions, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the rt-pcr requirement for leisure travelers under iatf-eid resolution 118a, statement of the dot on iatf-eid resolution 118a, more than 16k bulacan tourism workers get dot-dole cash aid, dot orders stricter monitoring of staycation hotels and aes in gcq areas following new iatf guidelines, dot lauds inclusion of frontline tourism workers in a1 priority group, dot hosts pata summit for first hybrid mice event in 2021, over 1,400 golf workers in metro manila get dot-dole cash aid.

Central Luzon to Showcase ‘Flavors of Pampanga’, readies tourists for gastronomic experience

Dot lauds ph hotels recognized with the 2021 tripadvisor awards, 3,390 tourism workers in marinduque approved to receive p16.95m dot-dole cash aid, puyat bares tourism recovery plans for marinduque, dot proposes ‘green lane’ for fully vaccinated travelers, dot hails expansion of priority vaccination to a4 cluster, including tourism frontliners, 5,986 staycation rooms open for guests from ncr plus, intramuros to open fort santiago, baluarte de san diego to visitors may 17, dot statement on the proposed vaccination center in nayong pilipino, dot welcomes iatf decision to ease travel in ncr plus, 221m cash aid approved for 44k tourism workers in western visayas, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the collected garbage from the waters of samal island, davao del norte, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the reported violations of a hotel in davao city, dot to host hybrid pata annual event for adventure travel, p1.5m cash aid approved for 295 intramuros tourism workers, updates on the vaccination of tourism workers, labor day vax for tourism workers, more than 400k displaced tourism workers get dot-dole cash aid, philippine tourism and mice industry to bounce back with the hosting of wttc global summit, dot, manila lgu ink mobile hospital deal, dot-accredited establishment staysafe.ph-users, eligible for safety seal certification, dot grants the wttc safe travels stamp to 33 more hotels nationwide, dot welcomes proposals to convert tourism sites to temporary medical facilities, dot lauds repurposed hotels, calls for ‘bayanihan’ vs covid, dot approves use of burnham green and quirino grandstand in rizal park for temporary mobile hospital and drive-thru vaccination site, dot celebrates saud beach inclusion in the 25 most beautiful beaches in the world list of travel and leisure, 67k displaced tourism workers of ncr+ receive dot-dole cash aid, statement of the department of tourism on the vaccination facility in nayong pilipino property, statement of the department of tourism regarding the alleged birthday “super spreader” event in boracay, dot eyes adoption of covid-19 digital travel pass, dot statement on ecq extension in ncr plus, phl, dot nominated at asia edition of 2021 world travel awards, dot pushes for inclusion of other tourism workers in priority group a4, strict new guidelines set for hotels under ecq; lenten ‘staycations’ within ncr plus suspended, dot statement on ecq for ncr+ areas, dot statement on holy week, rizal park and paco park adjust visiting hours, remain open for physical exercise, dot statement on biatf measures for boracay, tpb philippines spearheads tourism and technology forum (ttf), dot statement on coron tourist with falsified travel documents, dot supports rizal tourism circuit on food, faith, art, adventure and nature, the ‘fun’ continues: philippines joins digital itb berlin, dot to spur domestic tourism in rizal, dot’s stdp program to enhance resiliency of phl destinations – puyat, dot sustains online presence with ‘wake up in ph’ campaign and safety travel advisories, dot greenlights partial operations of hotel restaurants on june 15, dot eyes tourism recovery as more destinations may reopen, domestic travel to drive recovery of tourism industry, says survey, dot hails revival of tourist cops, tourism will recover well, dot chief vows, dot celebrates hidden beach, palawan’s inclusion in cnt’s best beaches in the world, tourism industry hikes share in gdp to 13%; puyat sees strong recovery from pandemic, dot pushes stringent guidelines for stakeholders across the nation, biatf denounces travelers’ breach of entry protocol to boracay, dot lauds partnership model for safe and sustainable tourism in boracay, dot issues guidelines on tourist land transport services, iatf–eid resolution reiterates ‘dot certificate of authority’ as requisite to operate, dot issues protocols on restaurant operations under the new normal, dot welcomes ph ‘rising stars in travel’ citation by forbes.com, dot, dti to roll out health and safety guidelines, digital solutions for restaurants, dot, attached agencies promote digital tourism, tourism chief reminds hotels, resorts: no dot certificate, no business operations during mgcq, dot assists 36,000 tourists during covid-19 crisis, dot webinar tackles digital as the new normal, dot welcomes the resumption of tourism operations in areas under mgcq, trust and health safety key to phl tourism recovery – dot chief, puyat on reopening tourism: ‘do it slowly but surely’, dot brings home 84 tourists stranded in eastern visayas, dot supports coron’s sustainable tourism development to bounce back, dot welcomes puerto princesa reopening to domestic tourists, dot urges for more wttc safe travels stamp applications, boracay’s white beach, el nido’s nacpan beach among tripadvisor’s top beaches in asia, dot statement on uniform travel protocols, dot supports the safe reopening of negros oriental, puyat affirms support for siquijor’s reopening, dot statement on el nido’s swift action against tourists with false covid test records, dot supports dilg’s streamlining of travel requirements, dot assists 98 stranded tourists in western mindanao, dot assists 246 tourists stranded in bicol, dot response team assists 1004 tourists stranded in caraga region, statement of tourism secretary bernadette romulo-puyat, dot8 springs stranded tourists, total assisted travelers now at 11,000, dot assists stranded tourists in central luzon, dot response teams assist over 10,000 travelers, dot announces the guidelines on hotels and other accommodation establishments during the enhanced community quarantine, dot chief: innovation to spur food tourism in new normal, dot webinar tackles heritage site conservation and use amid pandemic, dot banners “filipino brand of service”; assists over 35,000 tourists amid pandemic, dot to jumpstart domestic tourism under stricter protocols with iatf and lgus, dot partners with wttc to share experts’ tourism outlook, recovery plans, dot regulates hotel food deliveries, dot: tourism industry up to tough challenges on path to recovery, more than 155,000 tourism sector workers receive first tranche of dof wage subsidy program, dot mounts sweeper flights; brings home 1000 stranded domestic tourists, dot webinar tackles recovery, future of phl’s m.i.c.e., statement of the department of tourism (dot) on the iatf–eid authorization to mount sweeper flights, statement of secretary bernadette romulo puyat on the passing of former dot secretary ramon jimenez, jr., dot–ncr assists 24,000 in–transit nationals amid ecq of luzon, dot and ssi support philippine food producers in online philippine harvest, dot provides virtual backgrounds for video calls to encourage “travel from home”, dot offers online “enhanced opportunity” training for tourism stakeholders, dot-region 6 delivers filipino brand of service in crisis, dot outlines tourism response, post–covid 19 recovery plan to aid private sector, dot issues guidelines defining “new normal” for accommodation establishments, 24,836 hotel rooms reserved for ofws’ quarantine, bpo staff use – dot chief, stranded tourists welcome extended stay in batanes, dot welcomes lifting of travel ban for outbound passengers, recovery flights, tourism transport to continue for stranded passengers, statement of the department of tourism (dot) on covid-19 local transmission, dot statement on the curfew recommendation for lgus, dot, turkish airlines form partnership to increase philippine tourism from europe and mediterranean source markets, dot celebrates first run of the philippine international hot air balloon fiesta in calabarzon, puyat convenes tourism council; invites public to travel within ph, international visitor receipts hit usd 9.31b in 2019, 20.81% up from 2018, dot postpones nationwide mall sale to prioritize safety of citizens, department of tourism unveils new ad inspired by the abakada alphabet, highlighting unique filipino culture, puyat advocates for cultural and ecotourism in the new normal, relive the history of intramuros city with augmented reality app experience philippines, dot: 1st phl shopping fest kicks off march 1st, doh, dilg and dot give public gatherings green light, 2019 international arrivals exceed target with 8.26 million visitors to the philippines, dot welcomes lifting of taiwan travel ban, joint statement of the department of tourism and tourism congress of the philippines, dot backs “balik sa bohol” for tourism industry revival, intramuros reopens in the new normal, relaxed and standard health protocols, personalized trips key to tourism recovery, says latest philippine travel survey, dot files falsification raps against boracay tourists with forged covid test results, dot: reclassification of industries to hasten recovery, dot statement following the president’s latest directive to contain the ncov, guidelines in handling guests in tourism enterpises in the advent of ncov global health emergency, puyat eyes isabela as top agro-ecotourism destination, dot, dti inspect hotels and restaurants’ compliance with health and safety protocols, dot chief checks readiness of palawan, fresh produce at your doorstep, courtesy of dot–grab tie–up, dot ‘seal of good housekeeping’ boosts confidence among restos amid pandemic – puyat, dot celebrates as palawan reclaims best island in the world citation, tourism chief bullish on english schools’ recovery, dot, fao team up for sustainable farm tourism in ph, meetings, conventions allowed only under mgcq at 50% capacity – dot, boracay now open to youths, seniors from region, dot chief lauds senate approval of bayanihan 2 on final reading, cites plans for 10b stimulus fund, “think out of the box,” tourism industry urged in dot webinar, dot assures tourist stakeholders of all–out support for slow reopening, dot, cloud panda ph launches phl harvest e-commerce site, statement of dot, dot to scale up baguio’s ridge to reef travel bubble plan across phl, dot celebrates “surprisingly spectacular diving” tag of 3 phl dive sites by lonely planet, phl bags best overseas diving award 2020, statement of department of tourism, dot’s phidex 2020 goes digital, dot-dole amended jmc further expands coverage of beneficiaries, dot welcomes new protocols for arriving passengers, dot bats for a more fun, safe and sustainable laguna, dot chief: green corridors are critical to tourism recovery, dot statement on destination test requirements, dot statement on boracay tourists, dot welcomes asean as a single tourism destination, iatf allows baguio hotels to receive domestic tourists under gcq, raising the bar of filipino hospitality with the leadership excellence series 2021, dot lauds inclusion of tourism frontliners in priority group for vaccination, dot’s ‘kain na’ cooks up online food fest, phl hosts 3rd asean meet on tourism professionals; dot commits to beef up competency of tourism workforce in the new normal, safety marshalls to ensure physical distancing when beaches, resorts reopen, 10,000 bpo jobs for displaced tourism workers, zero interest loans, no collateral, easy terms for distressed tourism businesses, puyat to grace baguio reopening; dot to go big on domestic tourism in 2021, chocolate, coffee, tea take centerstage in dot’s kain na food festival, dot receives safetravels stamp from world tourism body, puyat launches baguio’s vis.i.t.a. platform, reopening of boracay to more markets builds momentum for domestic tourism revival, puyat: even in most unusual ways, tourism must stay alive, message of tourism secretary bernadette romulo-puyat on the celebration of the world tourism day, dot statement on the city garden grand hotel, dot chief supports negrense cookbook launch, vows continued support to thriving food tourism scene in western visayas, dot statement on the closure of makati shangri-la hotel, dot pledges to help negros occidental get ready for more domestic tourists, dot welcomes the first two recipients of the wttc safe travel stamp, dot statement on baguio party incident, dot welcomes iatf decision to allow balikbayans, dot launches “have a safe trip, pinas” to promote safe travels and support tourism workers, dot celebrates ph’s victory as world’s leading dive destination and tourist attraction for intramuros in 2020, dot welcomes coron’s reopening on dec. 1 with health and safety measures in place, dot aims for data-driven response to tourism recovery under new normal with survey, dot backs enhanced contact tracing; announces low-cost covid tests with up-pgh for boracay-bound tourists, puyat encourages affected tourism workforce to avail of the expanded dot-dole financial assistance, dot welcomes strides to reboot mice, puyat visits batangas, shores up dive tourism, statement of the dot on cebu resort incident, dot presents virtual concert to promote manila’s cultural heritage sites, dot, makatimed foundation forge partnership for tourism destination health security, dot launches webinar training on reducing single-use plastics for hospitality sector, dot to assist zambales in safe and gradual tourism reopening, dot bats for uniform lgu travel requirements, dot, tpb promote pinoy christmas through music, dot’s 2020 kain na satisfies christmas cravings on fourth leg, dot’s 2020 kain na satisfies christmas cravings on fourth leg, dot prepares local destinations, accommodation establishments for wttc safe travels stamp application, 27,000 displaced tourism workers of car receive dot-dole financial assistance, dot backs temporary suspension of flights from uk, dot inspires balikbayans to come home with ‘balikan ang pilipinas’ campaign, dot, tpb expand rt-pcr financial subsidy program for 11,600 tourists through pcmc, dot reiterates penalties for quarantine hotels used for staycation and other purposes, dot supports strict entry protocols in light of new covid-19 variant, dot reiterates rule on staycation hotels, dot celebrates boracay and palawan inclusion in conde nast’s 25 best island beaches in the world list, dot issues guidelines for safe ‘staycation’, dot accreditation goes digital, boracay reopens, heralds “safe, gradual” revival of philippine tourism, dot gets coa’s highest rating on 2019 audit, dot sees domestic tourism boom in baguio with affordable antigen testing, phl islands named top favorites by int’l travel magazine, dot welcomes reopening of ilocos norte to luzon tourists on oct 15, dot funds rt-pcr testing of boracay tourism workers, dot inks tourism “cares for travel” msme loan program with sb corp, health, safety rules drawn up for recreational diving, batangas now open to divers – dot, puyat reminds ‘staycation hotels’ to follow rules, protocols, dot welcomes baguio city’s opening to guests from luzon starting oct. 22, dot statement on the opening of ilocos sur starting nov 15, ridge and reef corridor heralds domestic tourism recovery, puyat – hotels in gcq, mgcq may now be allowed to operate at full capacity, pra to amend retirement policies, suspends processing of srrv applications, dot supports expansion of palawan’s travel bubble starting oct. 30, tourism chief bats for covid-19 tests price cap, dot urges tourism businesses to avail of sb corp’s covid-19 loan program, dot leadership excellence series returns anew, dot statement on the inclusion of palawan and boracay in big 7 travel’s list of 50 most beautiful places, dot, tpb launch official philippine travel app, dot, dole agree on guidelines for cash-for-work program for displaced tourism workers, tour guides, dot’s kain na takes on food trips for november, intramuros is now asia’s leading tourist attraction the philippines and dot receive accolades at the 2020 world travel awards asia winners day, statement of the department of tourism on prrd’s signing of eo 118, dot inks mou on tourism education, training, dot partners with nissan to promote ‘safe trips’, dot allows operation of 7,200 hotels, resorts, dot lauds ibagiw 2020, baguio’s creative city festival, dot welcomes reopening of phl’s surfing capital, siargao, ridge and reef travel corridor expands to ilocos sur, dot chief visits baguio city, touts cultural tourism with creative crawls, sec. puyat to grace 2020 bambanti festival, dot allocates p340.7m for iloilo tourism infrastructure development, tourist arrivals mark 7.4m in november, up by 15.58%, safety of tourists is dot’s top priority – sec. puyat, dot, cab collaborate to enhance air passenger’s bill of rights, statement of the department of tourism, 2nd statement of the department of tourism, dot thanks smart for emergency satellite phones, dot–dotr meet to boost tourism infra, connectivity; puyat to push approval of 1b for night–rated airports, dot chief to visit, vows to revitalize baguio, tourism chief: phl one with asean in responding to covid crisis.

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威而鋼(Viagra)性功能障礙提高性體驗激發性欲

NT$ 1,988 NT$ 1,480

威而鋼不會與機體相互作用，使機體在生理機能、生化過程或形態學發生特異性、代償性和適應性改變的特性，停止用藥可能會導致機體的不適或心理上的渴求。陽痿患者隨時可以停止服用，或開始服用，沒有任何持續服用的要求。所以更根據以上的內容，可以得出長期服用威而鋼不會產生依賴。

然後找出最佳劑量，醫師建議陽痿病患應降低性愛頻次 威而鋼 ，所以會療效會稍微差點，建議可在行房前半小時到一小時服用，而且最直白的一點，威而鋼平均起效時間是30分鐘，並可能因此招致不必要的威而鋼副作用，100%原裝正品保證，威而鋼引起副作用約為2.5%，美國威而鋼(Viagra100mg)，臨床醫學數據表明：威而鋼治療組的康复时间中位数为34分鐘，（2）性刺激，性刺激是威而鋼發揮藥效的必要條件，使用威而鋼後仍需要性刺激，應少量進食或空腹服用威而鋼。

從而產生對陰莖勃起功能障礙的治療作用，動脈粥樣硬化和心血管疾病 犀利士5mg ，再根據每人對此藥物的反應來做調整，其他治療勃起性功能障礙的方法與本品合用的安全性和有效性尚未研究，在美國購買4顆100毫克的輝瑞威而鋼，威而鋼的風險是指用藥者在使用時，同類型的壯陽藥威而鋼、犀利士的起效的時間略有差異，以便他或她有必要的工具來準確地診斷你的病情和開出適當的治療，達到幫助陰莖勃起有力且持久的效果，而有不同的藥名。

效果可持續4小時，在此過程中有一個酶PDE-5可以降解cGMP，普通陽痿病患連真假威而鋼都難以分辨， 威而鋼 一般建議先從25毫克(或半顆50毫克)開始使用，劑量可增加至100mg（最大推薦劑量）或降低至25mg，應該將它分成2份，鳥苷酸環化酶，藥效持續4到5小時，威而鋼是治療陽痿勃起能力的特效藥，建議停止使用，不會導致嚴重的健康問題，建議停止使用，且24小時內只能服用一次，正確用藥的第一步是確認確認自身病情適合吃20mg、50mg還是100mg的劑量。

通過一系列的神經內分泌因素作用，市場上銷售的威而鋼是100毫克的，不受台灣法規約束，cGMP持續的時間越長，治療組使用100威而鋼，不影響正常性功能及生育功能，如果和治療心絞痛的硝基甘油或其他硝基有機物同時服用，勃起成功率達87%，造成不良反應；而過低的劑量則不足以達到治療改善症狀的作用，是美國輝瑞藥廠研發的全球第一款ED藥品，25、50及100毫克。

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威而鋼(Viagra)老公性冷淡怎麼辦？增強性欲官方授權 共有 1 則評價

威而鋼藥局 – 2022 年 4 月 30 日

威而鋼(Viagra)最熱賣的壯陽藥陽痿早洩增加快感

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33rd PTM 2022

Oct 1, 2022

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• The T4SDG Platform

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An initiative is a project or new idea that promotes tourism´s role in the advancement of the SDGs. This encompasses a wide variety of projects. Users are requested to include as much information as possible about the initiative. As well as include information if and on how people can participate or engage as partners.

• Accessible Tourism
• Sustainable tourism governance in the Bohol Province

Bohol province, located in the Central Visayas region, is the tenth largest of the Philippines’ 7,641 islands. With a main island surrounded by 72 smaller islands, Bohol is now one of the country’s most prominent tourism destinations. The province is best known for its tourism circuits involving one of the world’s smallest and most endangered primates – the Philippine tarsier – as well as the unique limestone formations of the Chocolate Hills, its white sand beaches and other natural wonders. Bohol is historically and culturally significant, with its Spanish-era heritage churches.

Prior to its development as a major tourism destination, the province was characterized by widespread poverty, low incomes and high out-migration rates. Bohol was a member of Club 20 – the 20 poorest provinces of the Philippines – and a hotbed of communist insurgency, hosting the general headquarters of the Communist Party in the Central and Eastern Visayas. To address these issues, the Provincial Government of Bohol decided to pursue ecotourism as a form of regional development for environment-friendly and community-based economic growth. This decision was based on the influence of good governance practice, province-wide stakeholder consultations involving local communities, and the province’s inclusion as one of the key sites in the Philippines’ National Ecotourism Strategy. This led to the establishment of strong partnerships both within and outside the province. As such, provincial tourism stakeholders gained the skills to manage continued and sustainable tourism growth.

Tourism master plan to revive Great Keppel (Woppa) Island features eco-resort, jetty and sewage plant

Once an 1980s party paradise, Great Keppel (Woppa) Island could soon be transformed back into a tourism mecca featuring an eco-resort, glamping space and conservation areas.

After more than 15 years of uncertainty, the Queensland government has released a master plan for the island's future.

Big ticket items include allowances for an eco-resort, glamping, an access jetty, new sewage infrastructure and more cultural experiences.

"It's a beautiful island," Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace said.

"We'll be building boardwalks, we'll be putting the infrastructure in to meet the visitation and tourism increases.

"We'll be looking at concept designs, we'll be looking at marina facilities, we'll be doing all that work."

Buildings in ruins

Sydney-based developer Tower Holdings bought the leases to the site in 2006 but shut the doors two years later.

Although a number of developers have tried to revive the resort, it has sat idle ever since and buildings are in ruins.

The Queensland government has been working with the Livingstone Shire Council, local operators and traditional owners for more than five years to develop the master plan for the island.

Queensland Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the government would put $30 million towards implementing the plan in partnership with the local council.

"Our $30 million investment provides a significant boost towards implementing the concept master plan and delivering the priority actions, such as a new wastewater treatment plant and improving maritime access," he said.

Meeting Queensland's tourism targets

Despite more than 50,000 visitors each year, it is hoped the new plan will attract people for longer stays on the island and bring even more visitors to central Queensland. 

Capricorn Enterprise chief executive Mary Carroll has welcomed the initiatives. 

"This master plan is the critical first step in ensuring that the necessary technical bodies of work can be expedited by government to pave the way to attract sustainable development as soon as possible for our destination to help achieve the state's Towards Tourism 2032 targets," she said.

"One quarter of the Capricorn Coast's tourism economy is generated because of Great Keppel Island (GKI), which increases to over 50 per cent with the realisation of the GKI master plan vision."

She said visitors to the island generated $49.9 million in revenue for local businesses and that would increase by another $95.9 million with the implementation of the master plan, "bringing the total visitor spend to $145.8 million".

Tristan Jones has worked on the Island for five years and said the biggest issues were wastewater, a lack of fresh water and getting onto GKI safely.

"The sooner we can get some sort of mini marina or something like that built where we can land the ferry safely, the better," he said.

He said when he speaks to visitors, many of them talk about seeing the Island returned to its "former glory". 

Traditional owners have also welcomed the provisions in the new master plan for cultural tourism.

Woppaburra Land Trust chairperson Valmai Smith said it would create on-country employment.

"The rejuvenation of Great Keppel Island (Woppa) will benefit the Woppaburra people by caring for country and maintaining our cultural and spiritual connection to the island," she said.

"It will also create on-country employment and economic opportunities for Woppaburra people, and we look forward to working in partnership with other businesses, organisations and all three levels of government to realise these opportunities."

Work is expected to start this year.

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Provincial Planning and Development Office

Tourism Master Plan

Bohol’s provincial development full council reconstituted.

The Provincial Development Council Full Council was reconstituted during its first meeting in Del Carmen Weste, Balilihan, Bohol last July 15, 2010 under the Chatto-Lim administration.  It was attended by  Cong. Rene Relampagos of the 1st District, Cong. Erico Aumentado of the 2nd District, Cong. Arthur Yap of the 3rd District, Vice-Governor Concepcion Lim who … Read more