Bohol has long been known for its eco-cultural tourism attractions, such as the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier sanctuary, and the white sand beaches.But starting 2023, Bohol has been losing its competitive edge, according to a ranking released by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).The DTI’s Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities based on their performance in five pillars: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation.According to the 2023 CMCI results, Bohol ranked 58th among the provinces, down from 36th in 2022. Among the highly urbanized cities, Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol, ranked 30th, down from 24th in 2022. Among the towns, Panglao, the tourism hub of Bohol, ranked 72nd, down from 65th in 2022.According to DTI, the decline in Bohol’s competitiveness can be attributed to several factors, such as:- The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism industry, which is one of the major economic drivers of the province. The pandemic has caused travel restrictions, lockdowns, and health protocols that have reduced tourist arrivals and revenues. According to the Provincial Tourism Office, Bohol recorded only 1.4 million tourist arrivals in 2022, down from 2.5 million in 2019. The tourism sector also lost about P15 billion in income and affected more than 200,000 workers.- The lack of infrastructure development and innovation in the province, which hampers its economic growth and competitiveness.