Bohol tourism program highlights community experiences

Beyond the Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, and Balicasag Island, Bohol is being explored through its local communities in an ongoing community-based tourism (CBT) program.

Led by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines in partnership with Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports, the initiative runs from April 21 to 24, 2026, and brings together chefs, media, key opinion leaders, and tourism trade representatives to experience how community-driven activities can enrich travel.

“At Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports, we see tourism not just as movement, but as connection—with infrastructure such as Bohol-Panglao International Airport opening pathways for communities to share their stories, culture, and pride, and shape more meaningful travel experiences,” said Rafael M. Aboitiz, vice president and head of airports at Aboitiz InfraCapital.

TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles said the program emphasizes relationships between people, place, culture, and environment. “Tourism is not only about destinations, but about relationships—between people and place, between culture and environment, and between what we show the world and what we choose to preserve,” she said.

The itinerary includes immersive experiences in local food, farming, and crafts. Loboc River connects visitors with riverside communities, while Lasang Farm offers insight into planting and harvesting cycles. In Tubigon, raffia weaving showcases the craftsmanship sustaining local culture. Even at the Chocolate Hills, the program encourages understanding the landscape through the lens of local stories and daily life.

The CBT initiative aims to deepen appreciation of Bohol, linking visitors to the people, practices, and environments that define the province beyond its scenic attractions.