FILE PHOTO: Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado. Photo courtesy of the Provincial Government of Bohol
TAGBILARAN CITY — Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado said he wants to replicate Cebu’s flagship tourism program “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.”
“(I’ll do that) as long as Governor Gwen Garcia will not get angry if I will copy her program,” quipped Aumentado during a press conference in Tagbilaran City on Monday. November 21.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., who joined one of the stopovers of Suroy-Suroy, said the program must be used as a template for other local governments across the country.
Abalos said this type of tourism program would “empower” local governments.
For his part, Aumentado said that a “suroy-suroy” program can very well be applicable to Bohol province since their towns also have distinct tourist attractions like Cebu.
Bohol has 46 towns and 1 city while Cebu has 50 component cities and towns. Both provinces are top tourist destinations in the country.
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“I think Governor Gwen would be happy if I copied the program since it would mean that her wisdom is effective and so successful that we will copy it for our province),” Aumentado said.
The Suroy-Suroy Program of Cebu Province, started in 2005, is a group tour package where participants visit particular towns that will showcase their tourist attractions, festivals, and delicacies.
The promotion for local tourism has five legs, including the Southern Heritage Trail for Southern Cebu Towns, Northern Escapade for Northern Cebu towns, Midwest Cebu towns, Enchanting Camotes for Camotes Islands, and Bantayan Island.