“Let competition work,” PTC

on fixing tour transpo rates

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—With a deregulated tourist transport industry, the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) would rather allow the Philippine Competition Law to work, to the benefit of consumers.

PTC Co-Chair Atty Lucas Nunag shared this, in response to the clamor of tourism stakeholders to publish a tariff rate for tourist transport in Bohol amidst the claims that when left on their own, transport providers may have the tendency to dis-agree on the price of their transport services to the detriment of the industry.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA, the lawyer local tourism official said, with leading tourism stakeholders including hotels resorts restaurant operators, tour and travel agencies and other industry stakeholders, they have agreed to keep the prices offered for Bohol tours prior to the Middle East crisis, except for some fuel surcharge, considering the increase in fuel costs.

Anyway, the industry has agreed that we will not increase the regular rates, we just have to add up for the fuel charge [in the rates] bcause of the pump price, Atty Nunag shared.

Another issue that complicated the matter is the buying price of the peso.

[In] the rate of exchange of the peso against the dollar, the peso depreciated, it is a double whammy, he added.

Since the tourism rates in Bohol are peso-based, tourists tend to get cheaper deals, plus the discounts in the promos, that the accommodation sector is getting all the heat, according to industry leaders.

While not all of the resorts and hotels have publicized their tariff rates in the economic crisis, Atty. Nunag said there are resorts that have enticing promotional rates and huge discounts.

This, is a system to still get the tourists who did not get entangled with the hassle in the gulf countries transit hubs.

Apart from the few tourists whose travels are affected by the Middle East crisis, Bohol tourism officials are still looking at Asian, or Europeans whose travels do not need to pass through the troubled gulf countries, and the domestic travellers, to get to these handsome accommodation and tour offers in Bohol.

Still sacrificing profits over the sustainability of their operations and sustaining their staff, local hoteliers and resorts in fact offer promotional rates, if only to attract occupants and pay for their staff.

In the mean time, while Bohol tourism is off to a long lull, the tourism official has this to say to stakeholders: cut on costs when you can, be deliberate on spending and do not stop promoting to always stay visible in the market.

We can not afford to be left behind and forgotten, while waiting for the market to come alive, let us keep maintaining, let us keep improving on what we have and adding for what we need, he urged. (PIABohol)

DON’T STOP PROMOTING. To local tourism stakeholders, the economic crisis that has affected tourism arrivals in Bohol could also be a period for improving, upgrading and adding what the facility needs, while waiting for the market to be active again. PTC co-chair Atty. Lucas Nunag added, this crunch, like the threats in the past, will still make Bohol rebound. (PIAbohol)