Gov’t asked to set Bohol tourism-carrying capacity

PANGLAO, BOHOL — The government should now set a cap on the number of tourists allowed to visit Panglao, in order to sustain this premier tourist destination in Bohol.

This was the proposal of Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan, owner of Dumaluan Beach Resort at Barangay Libaong in Panglao, Bohol, a view that another resort operator also agreed, so as “not to kill the hen that lays the golden eggs.”

Dumaluan said tourist arrivals in Panglao island — consisting of Dauis and Panglao towns — should be regulated for the sake of sustainability.

"Tourism carrying capacity" is defined by the World Tourism Organization as: “The maximum number of people that may visit a tourist destination at the same time, without causing destruction of the physical, economic, socio-cultural environment and an unacceptable decrease in the quality of visitors' satisfaction.”

Dumaluan said all concerned government agencies and stakeholders should conduct a study on tourism carrying capacity of Panglao, “to determine the extent of which the benefits from tourism can be maintained, while sustaining the quality of the island’s social, economic and environmental aspects.”

Tourism growth in Panglao is expected to rise in the coming years, considering that more flights will be coming here when the new Bohol Airport starts to operate and more facilities are established by big players.

The Department of Transportation said that about two million tourists are expected to arrive at the new billion-peso airport in Panglao, which was however expected to be finished last June and operate after August 16, but has not operated yet, as of this writing. —