By PR| 11:17 AM September 06, 2024
“We want to realize the immense potential of Bohol as a tourism destination,” Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said during the opening of the 35th Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) at the SMX Convention Center on September 6.
This he stated amid pronouncements of Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, keynote speaker, on the country’s tourism thrusts and priorities that focus on experiential and immersive tourism.
Aumentado underscored that the province, the country’s first and only UNESCO Global Geopark, has more to offer to meet the varied interests of both domestic and international travelers.
He cited Bohol’s diverse offerings in sites, activities, and cultural heritage. He also noted plans to expand from the present tourism circuit to develop less-known gems that abound across municipalities.
This he stressed even as the province has been carving its niche in experiential and immersive tourism through programs and initiatives guided by the overarching strategic governance roadmap on sustainable tourism.
According to Joanne Pinat, the officer-in-charge of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office (BPTO), the province’s participation in the exposition and future exhibitions is guided by this development agenda through the use of indigenous, reusable, and recyclable materials.
The provincial government through the BPTO partnered with DOT-7 and tourism industry players to come up with the province’s booth that depicts Bohol’s rich marine biodiversity through the use of the indigenous raffia or buri palm.
“I feel transported, I feel like nag-diving ko,” Frasco exclaimed, marveling at the booth conceptualized by BPTO and executed by Tubigon Raffia Gallery and Tubigon Loomweavers.
The Bohol delegation to the PTM was led by Aumentado along with Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte, Board Member Jamie Aumentado Villamor, and Board Member Lucille Lagunay.
The local government units of Loboc, Panglao, Anda, and Tubigon along with the Bohol Alliance of Travel and Tour Operators, Parklane Bohol Resort and Spa, Loboc River Cruise, H Resort – The Coral Cliff and Tubigon Raffia Gallery participated in the event.
Bohol’s premier accommodations such as Bohol Beach Club, Best Western Plus The Ivywall Resort Panglao, The Bellevue Resort, Bluewater Panglao Beach Resort, Oceanica Resort Panglao, and Amorita Resort as well as Danao Adventure Park also joined this year’s PTM.
The premier travel event opened with a ceremonial tree planting led by Frasco, Arjun Schroff, president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association, Margarita Nograles, Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board along with representatives from event sponsors: Inventive Transformation Philippines, Inc., Philippine Airlines, GCash and UnionBank. (PIMO/LMS)
