CEBU CITY—The popular Loboc River cruise in Bohol has reopened to local and foreign tourists.
Loboc River cruise was halted when the Covid-19 struck. It reopened in the last quarter of 2021, but was closed again due to damage caused by last December’s Typhoon Odette.
It finally reopened last March 1 in which four cruise vessels were launched.
Each cruise vessel is capable of carrying 30-35 persons, or 50 percent capacity, in compliance with Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) rules.
Other river vessels are still being repaired but four more vessels are expected to be serviceable by end of March, Loboc River cruise operator Lourdes Sultan said in a statement sent to media.
Sultan added that floating restaurants in Loboc have also resumed their buffet lunch services.
“The refurbished boats are fitted with details in the Visayan vernacular architecture. Guests will enjoy a more elegant, culturally-attuned journey through waterway. The boats are now wider. Polished wooden floors, stained glass, capiz and callado details have been installed on the vessels,” Sultan said.
Since its reopening, at least 150 visitors are visiting the Loboc River cruise a day.
The Department of Tourism-Central Visayas (DOT 7) has said river cruising in Loboc is one of the tourism activities that will be restarting.
The DOT 7 believed that Loboc River as one of the top drawers of local and foreign tourists in the region.
“DOT 7 reiterates its commitment to industry players all over the region. We congratulate the Province of Bohol, Loboc and our floating restaurant operators for the initiative to enhance the Loboc River Cruise and for the successful reboot,” said DOT 7 Regional Director Shalimar Tamano.