Tourism stakeholders

Inspect new products

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, November 9, (PIA)—Taking cue from the projections in tourist arrivals in the next few months, Bohol Tourism Office under the Office of the Governor ventures into inspecting new tourism products developed to help decongest the main circuits and spread the benefits of tourism to other areas.

A team from the BTO composed of tourism product development specialists Gina P Kapirig, Cristopher Boncales, Bohol Federation of Tour and Travel Operators (BEFETTO) represented by Lourdes Sultan, Lenlen Bullecer, and Sarah Dejaresco, the Philippine Information Agency and some tour guides visited newly developed products November 5.

We want to inspect these newly developed destinations and accommodations, update them of the standards that we are following, make sure they also follow the minimum and still come up with a uniquely Boholano experience for tourists, Kapirig explained, during the ocular visit.

This also helps our tour and travel operators to see for themselves and think of creative ways to packaged and sell these destinations and accommodations, as our way of helping them out, she added.

It may be recalled that Bohol has put up a vision to become a prime eco-cultural tourism destination with a strong agro-economy and information, communication technology since then.

With this, the team also looks at how resorts and accommodations as well as newly developed destinations support the over-all vision and be guided by it.

In the itinerary for the day was Bung-aw Eco-Farm of Bugtongbod, Clarin, RJ Javier Tropical Fruits Farm in Cagawasan, Pilar, Bohol Foods (cacao) Farm in Tambo-an Carmen.

The team was also supposed to go to Pangas Falls in Barangay Dagohoy, Bilar but the team run out of time for that.      

Bung-aw Eco Farm is a pool resort and eco-garden nestled on top of a cliff overlooking the panoramic Inabanga-Clarin sea and distant Cebu.

Boasting of its manicured sweeping lawns, garden trails, horseback and all-terrain vehicle rides as well as a splendid panorama as it overlooks Clarin and Inabanga towns, Bung-aw also boasts of unique accommodations: spoke-shaved bamboo huts like the ones you see displayed along the highways here.

Owned and operated by Angie Hoffman to offer Panglao guests with an entirely different recluse, Bung-aw also offers overnight packages and pool use, and with a small restaurant that seats about 30 people, one can be assured of a delectable menu and service that is at par with international tastes.   

On the other hand, as soon as the farm gate opens, a colorful flower garden and an opportunity to ground with the earth on a barefoot earthing walk sets the tone for a tour ate RJ Javier Tropical Fruits Farm in Cagawasan, Pilar.

The arthing walk also ushers one to the sunflower alley, which leads to the sprawling tropical fruit farm that boasts of hectares upon hectares of tropical fruits, 22 kinds of them and only two or three have not been fruiting.

Foremost among their produce are the guapples (guava-apples), pineapple, lemons, guyabano, rambutan, passion fruit, veggeis and herbs as the owners RJ and Roel Javier also offers pick and pay schemes.

The farm also offers tours and farming lectures and inputs that include balancing the soil’s acidity, pollination, organic fertilization and other sustainable agriculture technologies.

Bohol Food Farm is a primarily papaya, cacao, and vegetable farm on the outskirts of Acacia Glamping Camp in Tambo-an, Carmen.

A farm located in the generally flat-lands of the barangay, growing a papaya variety that is suited for ripening is the farm’s main attraction.

Among its sprawling tracts of farm however is cacao, the plant whose seeds from its pod, when roasted, is the material for everyone’s favorite chocolates.

A cacao farm tour can be arranged, while tourists can also pick and pay from the farm. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

FROM THE BEACHES TO THE MOUNTAINS. Decongesting Panglao has been one of the goals of the owner of Bung-aw Eco-Farm as she opened a mountain resort with a panoramic view of Clarin and Inabanga. The farm resort has a well-maintained swimming pool for adults and a separate one for kids, homey overnight accommodations and farm tours. Here BTO team makes use of the panoramic background in this souvenir photo. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

FOR THOSE WHO CANT CLIMB TREES. RJ Javier Tropical Fruits Farm in Pilar is a little bit over four year old farm with a flower garden park that welcomes guests. The farm boasts of 22 tropical fruits, vegetables, and tours that explain sustainable agricultural technologies, including a barefoot walk on the flower garden pathway designed to trace the outlines of a tree, so those who have dreamt of climbing one, can do that here. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

BASKETSFUL OF KNOWLEDGE. BTO team complete the RJ Javier Tropical Fruits Farm with their buys: freshest harvest and even more practical knowledge on farming and living from the brothers RJ (in short pants) and Roel (on boots). Rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)