The Abatan River Tour will be included in the country’s agri-tourism destination package.
Bohol Gov. Edgar M. Chatto identified the Abatan River Tour for the project, said Rowena Montecillo, regional director of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7).
The Abatan River Tour was launched in 2010 by then DOT Secretary Ace Durano in partnership with Process-Bohol, Inc.
The 13.5 kilometer cruise transcends five municipalities in Bohol: Antequera, Balilihan, Catigbian, Cortes and Maribojoc.
It offers activities that will highlight history and legends on why the river got its name. Abatan or “abat” means to meet or an area where highland people and coastal people meet. It also tackles culture, tradition and the main livelihood of the communities which includes growing of agricultural products.
enhance package
Montecillo said that Chatto thought that it would be best to enhance the existing package for the “agritourism” project other than starting all over again to develop a new one.
“Abatan River Tour already have the elements needed to offer it as an agritourism attraction, all we need is to enhance it more and highlight more on the products and actovities that will put emphasis on the agritourism side,” said Montecillo.
ube, nipa wine
Montecillo said that they are looking at ube, nipa wine making, rice and vegetable production in the area to be included in the package.
“DOT will help establish the package for tourism while DA will help establish and identify the crops. DTI will help us in the packaging of these products for the tourists which will then be displayed in the showrooms that we are going to open,” said Montecillo.
Because the Abatan River Tour includes five municipalities, Montecillo said that they want to setup showrooms in each muncipality where tourists can shop.
seed money
Montecillo said the project was initiated by Senator Francis Pangilinan after he saw the potential of the areas to offer another exciting project to the tourists.
Pangilinan set aside P5 million as seed money to start the project.
According to Montecillo, DOT will partner with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture for the project.
The other three areas included in the project are Camarines Sur, Davao, and Palawan.
According to Montecillo, the project is set startthis year after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement next month.
“We are very happy about this project as it will definitely encourage more tourists to come to the region and explore our new offerings,” said Montecillo.
tourist arrivals
As of August last year, Bohol accounted for 12 percent of the total tourist arrivals in the region or 230,369.
Majority of their tourists or 68 percent are domestic travellers or 156,319 while foreign tourists traffic was only at 73,568.
add more packages
This could still be improved however according to Montecillo by adding more exciting packages to tourists especially that the new Panglao Bohol International Airport is set to be completed by 2015.
In a feasibility study conducted by Makati-based engineering firm TCGI Engineers in 2000, by 2015 there could be close to a million visitors coming to Bohol through the airport.
It is projected to reach 1.5 million by 2020 and two million by 2025.