China News Agency, Tagbilaran, Philippines, January 24, title: Bohol, Philippines: Welcome Chinese tourists with open arms
Author Zhang Xinglong Niu Hengjia
"I sincerely hope that more Chinese tourists will come back here!" On the 23rd, Luke, the owner of a souvenir shop by Alona Beach in Bohol Province, Philippines, said with emotion.
The Chinese government has recently optimized and adjusted the epidemic prevention policy, and citizens' outbound travel has resumed in an orderly manner.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China also recently issued a notice saying that starting from February 6, national travel agencies and online travel companies will resume the pilot operation of outbound group travel and "air ticket + hotel" business for Chinese citizens to relevant countries.
The Philippines is one of the 20 pilot countries.
In this regard, Josephine Cabarrus, director of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Bureau of the Philippines, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency on the 24th that he was very happy to hear this news, which means that there will be more Chinese tourists. Tourists return to Bohol and we will "welcome Chinese tourists with open arms".
Bohol Province is the tenth largest island in the Philippines. It consists of the main island and more than 70 small islands around it. It is one of the well-known resorts in the country.
Diving, beaches and various natural landscapes have attracted a large number of Chinese tourists to come here for leisure and vacation before the epidemic.
According to Josephine Caballus, since 2015, among all foreign tourists received in Bohol Province, the proportion of Chinese tourists has ranked first for five consecutive years.
In 2019, 365,000 Chinese tourists traveled here, accounting for 50.7% of the total number of foreign tourists received by the province.
"We hope that in the next few years, the number of Chinese tourists will return to the level before the epidemic." Josephine Cabarrus said.
"More Chinese tourists coming here to dive means that we will be busier, but we will be very busy." Butch, the director of a local diving shop, said.
During the epidemic, Butch's dive shop was closed because there were no tourists, and it did not reopen until December last year.
Butch's diving shop received Chinese tourists on the 24th. Although there were only a few people, he thought it was a good start.
"Next, I believe there will be more team tours from China, and we must be prepared."
Josephine Caballus said that currently Bohol Province has deployed tourist police in every tourist attraction, and at the same time, it is also starting to improve local communication, accommodation, transportation and other conditions to welcome tourists with a better environment and facilities , so that they have a safer and more comfortable travel experience.
"Balik Sa Buhol! (Welcome back to Bohol)" Josephine Caballus said in Tagalog.
(Finish)