Visit Bohol Tourism Campaign for 2015 Launche

The province of Bohol shows how it defiantly rose from the rubble as it introduces “Visit Bohol 2015,” a year-round tourism campaign that aims to revitalize its image and entice more visitors to come to Bohol.

Launched under the leadership of Gov. Edgar Chatto, “Visit Bohol 2015” seeks to position the province as a top-notch tourist destination with its amazing natural attractions and its friendly and honest people.

A taste of bountiful Bohol at the Bohol Travel Fair—The first Bohol Travel Fair opened today at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City amid simple yet meaningful ceremonies. The 3-day event, which runs today until January 11, 2015, serves to kickstart the province’s Visit Bohol 2015 tourism campaign, which hopes to lure local and foreign tourists, including businessmen, back to the province to explore its beauty and natural splendor and be part of its growing economy. The initiative is also aligned with the Philippine government’s own “Visit The Philippines 2015” tourism campaign, a follow up to its successful “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” effort last year. The Bohol Travel Fair, which is organized by the Bohol provincial government in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPBPHL), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was attended by numerous VIPs, dignitaries and special guests from the province, the national government, the diplomatic corps, and other important stakeholders in the Philippine tourism scene. The event also provided participants, mainly private resort owners, the opportunity to showcase the best of what they can offer to event guests and the general public when it comes to tourist attractions. Shown in photo during the opening ceremonies are (from left to right) L-R: Mr. Reed Aeschliman (Deputy Mission Director, USAID Philippines); Hon. Rene L. Relampagos (Congressman 1st district. Chairman of the Committee on Tourism of the House of Representatives); Hon. Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. (DOT Secretary); Hon. Benjie Arcamo (Board Member of Provincial Govt of Bohol); Hon. Edgar M. Chatto (Governor of Bohol); Atty. Lucas M. Nunag (Bohol Provincial Tourism Council Chairman); Hon. Arthur Yap (Congressman 3rd District) ; Hon. John Geesnell Yap II (City Mayor of Tagbilaran).

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The tourism campaign kicked off via a three-day Bohol Travel Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, last January 11-13, 2015. Organized by the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council Inc. under Atty. Lucas Nunag, the travel fair gathered together all major players in the Bohol tourism sector with a single-minded objective of providing a strong boost to Bohol’s tourism industry.

“For years, Bohol has always been in the hearts of every Filipino, not only as an eco-cultural tourism landmark but as a home to a number of our country’s pride. As we felt how our kababayans share our grief during the devastating catastrophe that hit our province, we now feel the surge of support as we pave the road to recovery and come back in the tourism map. With Visit Bohol 2015, expect a much better and bolder Bohol – ready to welcome all of you to our beautiful province. We invite you to visit and be awed not just by the wonderful sites Bohol has to offer, but also by the endearing graciousness, hospitality and trustworthiness of Boholanos,” says Governor Chatto during the opening ceremonies of the Bohol Travel Fair.

“Our dream is to make Bohol a tourism superpower and top holiday destination. With the help of our partners and other significant stakeholders from the public and private sectors, we believe this is achievable,” adds Governor Chatto.

The launch event, which was supposed to be held on December 8 to 10, 2014, was rescheduled due to super typhoon Ruby that slammed parts of the country. Now the campaign is going full blast and ready to entice residents and tourists to visit Bohol.

Bohol is known for its awe-inspiring “Chocolate Hills,” rustic and centuries-old churches in Baclayon and Loboc, the ever-lovable “tarsier,” and of course, the never-ending smiles and hospitable culture of its people. Aside from that, Bohol boasts of having some of the best white-sand beaches in the world like those in Panglao and Anda, and is fast gaining ground as a top eco-cultural tourism spot because of its numerous mystical cave sites, serene rivers, enchanting waterfalls and mangroves, spellbinding marine sanctuaries and diving sites, and adventure-oriented attractions.
Other partners for “Visit Bohol 2015” include the United States Agency for International Development through its Advancing Philippine Competitiveness Project (USAID-COMPETE), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), plus local tourism businesses, Ms. Gloria Steele, USAID Mission Director for the Philippines, and DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., who is also one of the keynote speakers, are among the many dignitaries at the event.

 For the Bohol Travel Fair, Bohol also partnered with AirAsia, the leading budget airline in the region, as its exclusive airline partner. AirAsia, awarded by Skytrax, the world’s most prestigious airline and airport  review and ranking site, as the world’s Best Low-Cost Carrier for six consecutive years, offers unbelievable, year-round low fares for its Manila-Tagbilaran and Manila-Cebu flights to attract more visitors to the province.

Aside from the low seat prices, also up for grabs at the “Visit Bohol 2015” travel fair are at least 60 percent discount in accommodations, tour packages and other travel essentials, plus various indigenous Boholano products.

 To provide entertainment, travel fair visitors will be serenaded by the heavenly voices of the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir, who will sing popular and classic music via a mini concert every night for the duration of the three-day event.