PHOTO via Bohol Provincial Tourism Office FB
CEBU CITY – The province of Bohol is ready for the influx of tourists this Holy Week.
Coordinated preparations across tourism, transport, and accommodation sectors have been conducted to ensure a safe, seamless, and spiritually enriching experience for both domestic pilgrims and international travelers, said Joanne Pinat, officer-in-charge of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office.
To ensure public safety, a heightened alert task force has been activated, covering airports, seaports, and frontline services, including the Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police.
Pinat said the province is implementing proactive and coordinated strategies to manage the expected influx of tourists.
Tourists were advised to follow guidelines and utilize official booking channels to avoid inconvenience, including long queues and unauthorized ticketing practices.
“We want to welcome our visitors, and we ensure their safety here in Bohol. Guests will, of course, be properly welcomed,” she said in a recent episode of The Capitol Reports.
She reported a two-year average daily arrival of 2,600 visitors and more than 16,200 passengers recorded through seaports, driven largely by pilgrimage tourism such as Visita Iglesia and retreat activities.
Pinat highlighted ongoing collaborations with the Department of Tourism and local stakeholders, including the engagement of social media influencers, promotional campaigns, and targeted marketing initiatives in key international markets such as Europe and Japan.
Greg Dennis Madanguit of the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts, and Restaurants underscored the active coordination between the accommodation sector and airline operators to align tourism demand with available services.
He noted that more than 1,000 establishments are prepared to host visitors, maintaining stable rates while offering promotional packages for the Holy Week.
Anghelo Ybañez, manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines at Bohol-Panglao International Airport, said airport operations remain fully functional with no cancellations of airline trips expected.
Ybañez assured that the Bohol-Panglao International Airport is prepared to accommodate increased passenger traffic.
Ports in Tagbilaran, Tubigon, Getafe, Jagna, Ubay, and Talibon are gearing up for high passenger movement.
Help desks will be established in all major ports to assist passengers and strengthen monitoring of cleanliness, personnel conduct, and safety protocols.