The video of Australian vlogger Travis Fein about expensive fares in Bohol and about a woman who asked him if he was rich has raised eyebrows worldwide and reignited global public outrage against exorbitant fares in Bohol.
The viral video exposed the high fare from Bohol Panglao International Airport to Modala Beach Resort located in Doljo, Panglao.
In the video, upon Travis Fein’s arrival, he encountered a woman canvasser who offered him a fare of P600-P700, claiming that Modala is far from the airport.
Fein’s video had subtitles, and in his video, he asked another canvasser how much the fare was.
The viral question “You are Rich?” was asked by the woman, to which Fein replied, “No”.
The woman in the video was heavily criticized for her question, “You are rich?”
In this viral video, Travis Fein apologized for his incorrect subtitle and asked for forgiveness from the woman.
His Facebook post revealed, “Hello! There is a mistake in subtitles. The lady did not ask ‘You are rich?’ She asked ‘You arranged?'”
Travis Fein further added, “I heard what she said wrong, sorry about this mistake! The lady was incredible and was trying to help me.”
The vlogger deleted his original video and uploaded a video without the part where the woman asked, “Are you rich?”
According to Travis Fein’s update post, “Hello! Sorry about the re-upload! My last video had a mistake in the subtitles and deleting it was important. And I’m sorry again to the lady that I had the wrong caption with. Thank you”.
TRANSPORT OPERATORS REACT
In response to the viral video that has resurfaced this week, operators of tourist transport services in Bohol, particularly those operating at Panglao Airport and Tagbilaran Pier, have vehemently denied allegations that their service rates are higher compared to other destinations in the country.
The issue, which first emerged in December 2023, was reignited by vlogger Travis Fein, causing significant impact on the operators.
In a letter issued by the president and representative of the Confederation of Tourist Transport, they revealed that their rates are even cheaper compared to Cebu.
They also expressed their concern over the spread of misinformation on social media, stating that there are other transport providers in Bohol that originated from other parts of the Philippines, such as Boracay and Iloilo.
The operators further stated that they had written letter to the Governor of Bohol asking support local transport providers under the “Bohol First” and “Panglao First” initiatives, but companies from outside the province are still allowed to operate in Bohol.
They clarified that their rates for tourist transport services are not high and strongly disagreed with the reports and claims made by some vloggers.
They stressed the need to scrutinize and clarify information before posting it on any social media platform.
The standard rates for their tourist transport services are as follows:
Van and Car Rates in Alona Area:
– 1-3 Passengers – P 500 – Car
– 1-8 Passengers – P 600 – Van
Van and Car Rates Outside Alona Area – Panglao:
– 1-3 Passengers – P 600 – Car
– 1-8 Passengers – P 800 – Van
Pier/Seaport to Panglao Rates for Car and Van:
– Car – 1-3 Passengers – P800/Way
– Van – 1-8 Passengers -P1000/Way
– Premium/Long Van – 1-12 Passengers – P1, 200/Way
They added that operators at Panglao Airport are obliged to pay the CAAP for their operating permit, as well as the local government of Panglao for additional permits.
Furthermore, the operators said the price of gasoline and diesel is constantly increasing. In addition, the driver’s salary, vehicle maintenance costs, and other factors need to be considered.
They strongly refuted the claim that their rates are excessively high and stressed the need to correct this misconception.
The operators suggested installing billboards at the airport and seaport to inform arriving tourists about the standard prices for vans and cars. This suggestion emerged during an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, May 8, at the Bohol Tourism Office in response to the viral video this week.
They expressed hope that the issue regarding the alleged high transportation fees in the province of Bohol will be clarified.
They reminded everyone that all their tourist transport vehicles are DOT Accredited, brand new, and have been upgraded to high-end transportation services in Panglao and throughout the province of Bohol.
AUSTRALIAN VLOGGER
In the recent vlog, Australian internet personality Travis Fein highlighted the steep taxi fares from Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA) to a local resort in Panglao town.
Fein documented his journey from BPIA to Modala Beach Resort, capturing his negotiation with representatives of taxi services operating within the airport. The quoted fare was a hefty P700, which Fein declined, opting instead for a more economical tricycle ride.
With assistance from airport security, Fein secured a tricycle ride for a more reasonable P200. The vlog, posted on May 7, 2024, has since garnered significant attention, amassing 3.6 million views and 124,000 reactions.
The vlog also featured a notable interaction with a local woman, which led to a subtitle error and subsequent apology from Fein. The woman’s question, “did you arrange?” was mistakenly subtitled as “You are rich?” Fein addressed the error in a pinned comment, expressing his desire to personally apologize to the woman and praising her helpfulness.
Fein further expressed his admiration for the Philippines, stating, “Philippines is the most honest country I’ve been to, and I never see any scams in the country. I always try to promote The Philippines positively, and I hope there is lots of tourism that comes to the country… It’s a beautiful place.”
BPIA Management Responds
In response to the vlog, BPIA resident manager Angelo Ybañez clarified in a radio interview that the taxi fares are determined by the taxi association members themselves, with the airport management having no authority to intervene.
Ybañez confirmed that five transport groups, considered as concessionaires, are permitted to operate taxi services within the airport. These groups pay a monthly fee to BPIA, and their concessionaire status is approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) head office.
Bohol Tourism Industry Calls for Reform Following Vlogger Incident
Bohol First District Board Member, Aldner Damalerio, has called for a reform in the local tourism industry.
This follows a recent incident involving an Australian vlogger’s interaction with taxi services at the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA).
During his appearance on Newsmakers ug Uban Pa on May 9, 2024, Damalerio highlighted the issue that came to light after the vlogger’s video went viral on social media.
The video exposed the high fare prices in Bohol, sparking concern among locals and tourists alike.
Damalerio emphasized that the incident underscores the need for local and provincial authorities to take a more active role in the tourism sector.
This is to ensure the protection of both stakeholders and tourists, and to counter the perception that Bohol is an expensive holiday destination, Damalerio said.
The board member believes that there are several areas that authorities need to address to help the tourism industry thrive.
He described the issue as multi-faceted, requiring the involvement of authorities at different levels of government.
The viral video has also drawn the attention of Boholanos, who agreed that the rates were steep.
Damalerio sees this as a starting point for discussions aimed at safeguarding the local tourism industry.
In response to the issue raised in the vlog, Damalerio has urged his colleagues at the Provincial Board, particularly those on the Committee on Tourism, to investigate the matter.
As Panglao falls within his district, he is seeking immediate solutions at the provincial level.
Bohol Board Member Calls for Regulation of High Taxi Fares
Bohol First District Board Member, Benjie Arcamo, has expressed concern over the high taxi fares from the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA) to local resorts. In a recent interview on Ardy Araneta-Batoy’s Newsmakers ug Uban Pa episode on May 7, 2024, Arcamo cited an instance where a passenger was asked to pay P700 for a taxi service to Modala Resort.
Arcamo, who hails from Panglao, a town in the first district he represents, compared the taxi fares in other tourist areas in the country, stating they are relatively cheaper.
He believes that the exorbitant fares might discourage tourists from visiting Bohol.
He recalled a similar instance in the past where a tourist and companions were asked to pay P500 fare from the airport to a resort in Alona Beach.
He emphasized the need to address this issue promptly to protect the tourism industry in Panglao.
Arcamo suggested legislative remedies to the situation, which has recently brought Bohol into the limelight on social media. A vlog discussing the high fares has garnered at least 3 million views, catching the attention of Boholanos worldwide.
He proposed the creation of a fare matrix to help travelers choose the best transport options when visiting Panglao. He also suggested that local government units (LGUs) could draft legislation to regulate fares and ensure fair pricing, especially for tourists.
However, Arcamo acknowledged that the biggest challenge in such measures is in their implementation.
Arcamo said the manner of imposing the law will determine whether the problem of high fare costs would be solved or not.
He also warned public utilities with franchises that they should offer services to the public without discrimination.
CITY COUNCILOR ZAMORA REACTS
Tagbilaran City Councilor Nerio Zamora II expressed concern over an incident involving a vlogger that could tarnish Bohol’s tourism image.
He highlighted the potential negative impact on the local tourism industry and called for a united effort from all sectors, including key tourism stakeholders, to address such issues.
Zamora emphasized the importance of tourism to Bohol’s economy, especially in light of the pandemic’s impact.
He also mentioned the city’s regulation of tricycle fares for travelers arriving via the Tagbilaran Seaport and the crucial role of the provincial government in addressing challenges that could harm Bohol’s reputation as a tourist destination.