Bohol seen attracting more tourists

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is more confident in marketing Bohol to foreign tourists given the expected improvement in infrastructure for both water and air connectivity this year.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, who recently visited the island of Panglao in Bohol, lauded the Malingin bulk surface water project, which aims to provide potable water to 10,000 to 15,000 households in the area.

“With the water project, we are confident we can sell the destination. We have water and we have the airport. There will be direct flights from Europe to here,” Teo said.

The P1.5 billion water treatment facility and distribution project by Bohol-based Richli Corp. aims to provide potable water to Panglao, Dauis and several barangays in the city of Tagbilaran.

Richli chairman Richard Lim cited the poor quality of water in the area and high water prices as the problem.

Water prices in the area hover around P125 per cubic meter, way higher than the average of P30 to P40 per cubic meter in Manila.

Teo said new infrastructure developments help emerging tourist destinations like Bohol become more competitive in the tourism sector.

The DOT identified Bohol as one of the emerging tourist destinations in the country. Last December, the DOT brought several Miss Universe candidates to Bohol to witness what the island has to offer.

In an earlier interview, Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said the province is optimistic about hitting 1.2 million to 1.3 million arrivals this year with the expected operation of the Panglao International Airport in August.

For next year, Chatto is looking at hitting 1.5 million tourist arrivals.