INFORMATIONS
IVY BETALMOS
About the Author: Ivy Betalmos is a Criminology student at Bohol Island State University
– Balilihan Campus. She is a youth journalist for Kabataan For Change (KFC) and
currently serves as the President of Batch Bagwis, the 4th-year graduating class of
Criminology students. She is the former President of the Supreme Student Government
(SSG), the Campus Student Organization(CSO), and the Aspiring Criminologists of the
Philippines Society (ACOPS) of BISU–Balilihan. Ivy is also a TRAILER under
YouthLead Philippines and a member of the Local Youth Development Council of
Balilihan. She continues to use her voice and platform to represent the youth, promote
civic awareness, and advocate for purposeful and transformative leadership.
Bohol’s Tourism at a Crossroads: Blooming No More?
Bohol once bloomed because of visionaries like former governor and congressman Edgar Chatto. Through his leadership, the province was declared an “eco-cultural tourism zone” under Republic Act 9446, and his advocacy in the Tourism Act of 2009 (RA 9593) helped establish a legal framework for tourism growth nationwide. Resorts thrived, beaches teemed with life, and travelers marveled at the Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, and the province’s unspoiled natural beauty. Tourism was not just an industry, it was a heartbeat, a source of livelihood, pride, and identity.
Today, that heartbeat is weakening. Overpricing has become rampant, from hotel rooms to boat rides, from entrance fees to meals. Visitors leave feeling exploited rather than welcomed. Even locals whisper that Bohol is “too expensive,” while other destinations like Palawan, Siquijor, and Camiguin rise as more affordable alternatives with better value for money. The very island that once set the standard for tourism is now in danger of being replaced by provinces that understand the real rules of hospitality: fairness, value, and genuine care for their visitors.
If ever the province could speak, it would probably ask: Does Bohol deserve this? Does it deserve overpriced services, frustrated visitors, and a slow erosion of its natural and cultural treasures? And to those who exploit the land, the sea, and the people for profit. How can you live knowing you are destroying the very legacy that generations built?
Tourism is not just about money. It sustains jobs, supports small businesses, funds community projects, and preserves culture. When visitors feel cheated, the consequences ripple far beyond tourist areas. Families lose livelihoods, schools lose funding, and centuries-old traditions risk fading. How can we allow this to happen in a province that was once a model for sustainable tourism?
The questions don’t end there. To business owners: Are profits worth sacrificing reputation? Are high prices and poor service worth the risk of losing loyal visitors? To policymakers: What are your plans for Bohol and how long will you allow unchecked greed and environmental neglect to dictate the future of this island? And to every citizen who calls Bohol home: What will you do to protect the beauty and integrity of your province before it’s too late?
So, the ultimate question remains: How can we make Bohol a top tourism destination again? How can we restore its value, its integrity, and its reputation in the eyes of the world? The answer lies in courage, fairness, and a shared commitment to sustainability. Local government units must enforce fair pricing and transparency. Resorts, tour operators, and transport providers must deliver quality in line with cost. Communities must protect natural resources and cultural heritage. Tourism is not just surviving, it is thriving responsibly, sustainably, and with pride.
Bohol can bloom again, but only if it chooses the right path. The island must prioritize value over greed, service over exploitation, and sustainability over short-term profits. Otherwise, Bohol risks fading into history as a “beautiful but overpriced” destination, a cautionary tale for other provinces to learn from.
The truth is uncomfortable but unavoidable. Bohol’s legacy is in our hands, and so is its future. Will we rise to the challenge, or will we allow overpricing, environmental destruction, and greed to undo decades of careful work? Visitors and locals alike are watching. Do we want Bohol to be remembered as a paradise that thrived or a paradise that withered because we failed to care?
Bohol’s crossroads are here. The path forward demands courage, fairness, and foresight. The world is moving, and tourists have choices. If Bohol wants to remain a crown jewel of Philippine tourism, it must prove that it can welcome the world with heart, honesty, and value before it’s too late.