TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, August 1 (PIA) – The Bohol Tourism Office (BTO) has assured that the recently concluded three-day Bohol travel fair will be “the first among many.”

This as Bohol successfully capped the first Sandugo Travel and Tourism Expo, a three-day Bohol travel fair organized by the Provincial Government through the BTO and sponsored by Air Asia, Bellevue Resort, and Standard Insurance.

“We were working on a short time, but even then, we were able to put up a good one,” said Cristopher Boncales, who was speaking for Josephine Cabarrus and Joan Pinat, operations officer.

The three-day travel fair from July 27-29 had the local government units of Bohol, Anda, and Loboc bringing out their tourism offers in travel fair set-ups at the Island City Mall (ICM) Activity Center.

Also joining the said event were Best Western Hotel (Ivy Wall), Parklane Hotel, Loboc River Resort and Modala Resort, United Cottages Operators of Pamilacan, and South Palms in Panglao.

Also organized to present the “Farm, Fork, Fitness” theme pushed by the Department of Tourism, Bohol’s travel expo featured Vita Isola, Green Thumb, and Durban’s View in the Farm Tourism niche.

For the outdoor experience, sellers of their activities include Sotera All-Terrain Vehicle Tours, Rio Verde, Danao Adventure Park, and Kayakasia.

For the local tours and travels, presenting their services were Bohol Federation of Tour and Travel Operators (BOFETTO), Travel; Treats, Ramyer Travel and Tours, LV Transport and Dagohoy World Travels.

Boncales said they did not expect to see this leveled up set-ups as they have agreed with the exhibitors that in view of the lack of time, they will just put up a table or booth and put out fliers of their services.

“We presented the project late and when we coordinated with ICM, we were told that the only slots left were those,” he added, noting that they earlier proposed for a weekend travel expo knowing that crowds would be coming out on Saturdays and Sundays.

“At any rate, we will be seriously planning for next year, making sure that there would be a huge turnout of hotels, resorts and restaurants, tour and travel accommodations, home stays and activities,” Boncales said.

Despite the limited time, Green Thumb Farm owner Rona Denque praised the organizers for the event which marked her first public participation.

She also was happy she had the opportunity as she said she would be joining Bohol in the next Travel Expo in Manila.

“This would be a good preparation for me as well as everyone who would wish to announce to the whole world that Bohol tourism is now back and much stronger and better than ever,” Denque said. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)