Bohol tourism opens up to more tourists as it will no longer stick with the idea of exclusively accepting those coming here for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) events. The industry is set, on Dec. 15, 2020, to pivot towards hosting MICE events and inviting more individual travelers to visit here for leisure.

Gov. Arthur Yap released a statement exclusively to The Bohol Tribune immeditely before press deadline about Bohol tourism’s pivot from solely hosting MICE events to allowing frequent individual travelers (FIT) to open the local tourism industry to leisure tourists.

Yap said: “This pandemic has cost us a lot of jobs and income for our people. We note that on November 15, 2020 we opened Bohol for MICE events. Yet, from Nov. 15 up to Dec. 4, there were only 36 tourists that visited our province.”

“In a study conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR_ on carrying capacity, the island of Panglao alone can accommodate up to 3000 tourists per day,” the governor continued to explain. 

“So, as we have opened up for MICE events, we were only at 1% of the carrying capacity of Panglao. We can no longer afford to stretch the effects of COVID-19 in our economy. Hence, after thorough consultation with tourism stakeholders in our province, it is but necessary to loosen up and open up, further,  Bohol’s tourism economy for frequent travelers and leisure tourism,” Yap said.

He added: “This is the reason we welcome the Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Agriculture (DA) and private tour operators and other agencies on their familiarization tour from Dec. 4-10.”

Yap also said, “However, it does not mean that we have to let our guards down. We must continue to adhere by the protocols set-forth in order to protect Boholanos from the virus. I therefore ask all Boholanos to strictly follow the minimum health standards so we can open our economy to help our fellow Bolanons reclaim their lives,” the governor ended his statement.

Furthermore, the opening of Bohol tourism to FIT and leisure tourism will be based on the established Panglao Island bubble. The visitors can come even if they are not joining any MICE events, the governor explained during the virtual press conference on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020.

Earlier, based on Executive Order (EO) No. 53, only groups with members of not less than six (6) persons are allowed to enter in Bohol and must join MICE events.

This is about to change with an amendment to the EO, which is coming soon, according to Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto.

An amendment is needed to allow the entry of tourists who number less than six (6) to travel and enjoy the amenities in the province as FIT and leisure tourists.

THE LETTER

In his letter dated Nov. 26, 2030, the governor wrote to the DOT secretary, “The Provincial Government of Bohol would like to express our utmost gratitude for the constant support your department has extended the Province under the Tourism Response and Recovery Program in these trying times.”

“Accordingly, local tourism has gradually bounced back after the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2020 was conducted in our Province. On November 15, over a month after the PHITEX and following the announcement you made then, we have re-opened our Island to MICE type of events and we are praying for a positive outcome,” the governor said.

The governor added in his letter, “Along this line, we are also pleased to inform you that after a series of consultations with stakeholders, the Provincial Tourism Council and the Bohol Association of Hotels Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR), are projecting to open again our doors for Frequent individual Travellers (FIT) and Leisure Tourism on December 15, 2020.”

The governor continued:”As our way of supporting the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) Familiarization Tours of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) on December 7-10, 2020, may we respectfully invite you to do us the honors of joining the undersigned in announcing this new development. Your support to this undertaking will be highly appreciated as we continue to promote the ‘new normal’ for tourism under the Ultimate Bohol Experience for safe and seamless travels amidst this COVID-19 pandemic.”

FAMILIARIZATION TOUR

Tomorrow, Dec. 7, 2020, three (3) groups of visitors are expected to arrive in Bohol for a familiarization tour up to Dec. 10, 2020, according to Provincial Administrator Pioquinto.

Pioquinto said the DOT and the TPB will bring not just members of the Philippine Tour Operators Association Inc. (PHILTOA), but also government officials and private sector representatives that will help in the tourism industry recovery effort here.

According to an information obtained by The Bohol Tribune last night before deadline, Sec. Romulo-Puyat will meet the Bohol media in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020.

Moreover, Pioquinto said that based on the information from TPB chief operating officer Ma. Antoinette Allones, about 90 persons are arriving here, divided into three (3) groups to ensure the proper observance of social distancing and health protocols. 

Each group of visitors will have its specific purpose for visiting Bohol. Some will be visiting for business, some for tours, as some will assess the tourism recovery effort here.

Also, the governor said the visit of key tourism and economic government officials is an opportunity to assess the needs of the local tourism industry as it moves towards recovery as it has been greatly impacted by the pandemic.

Based on the initial list, aside from personnel from the TPB, two (2) undersecretaries from the NEDA are coming and they are Usec. Rosemarie Edillon and Usec. Jose Miguel dela Rosa. The NEDA team also includes some senior ranking officials.

Two (2) assistant secretaries from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are also expected to arrive and they are Asec. Rhea Peñaflor and Asec. Joseline Niwane. They will be joined by some senior ranking officials, too.

An undersecretary of the DA is expected to visit Bohol and she is Usec. Cheryl Marie Natividad.

Also expected to arrive are officers of the Small Business (SB) Corporation, some members of the private sector and the media from Manila.