Bohol Destination Analysis

Bohol is a first class island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital isTagbilaran City. With a land area of 4,117.26 square kilometres (1,589.68 sq mi) and a coastline 261 kilometres (162 mi) long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines. To the west of Bohol is Cebu, to the northeast is the island of Leyte and to the south, across the Bohol Sea is Mindanao. The province is a popular tourist destination with its beaches and resorts. TheChocolate Hills, numerous mounds of limestone formation, is the most popular attraction. Panglao Island, located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, is famous for its diving locations and routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts dot the southern beaches and cater to divers from around the world. The Philippine Tarsier, considered the second-smallest primate in the world, is indigenous to the island. Boholanos refer to their island homeland as the “Republic of Bohol” with both conviction and pride. A narrow strait separates the island of Cebu and Bohol and both share a common language, but the Boholanos retain a conscious distinction from the Cebuanos. Bohol’s climate is generally dry, with maximum rainfall between the months of June and October.

The interior is cooler than the coast. Mainland Bohol is oval-shaped, having a gentle, rolling terrain. Bohol’s mountainous interior is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna. At certain points, hills drop steeply to the coast from a maximum elevation of 870 metres (2,850 ft) above sea level. The interior uplands are fit for agro-forestry and high value agricultural production. The central and northern lowlands have also fertile grounds and abundant water supply. Over a hundred caves have been identified, the biggest of which is found in the eastern part which makes Bohol ideal for spelunking adventures. Hills dominate the island of Bohol. Two ranges run roughly parallel on the northwest and the southeast. An interior plateau is dominated by limestone hills. In Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan, these hills form near perfect cones in great numbers and are collectively referred to as the Chocolate Hills. The Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol are considered one of Philippine’s natural wonders and Bohol is often referred to as the Jewel of the Philippines. They are hills made of limestone left over from coral reefs during the ice age when the island was submerged.

They turn brown during the summer, hence their name. White sandy beaches dot the coast of the island. The sand is often of such high quality that it is exported to other beaches in the world. The most well known of these beaches are in Panglao Island, and there, numerous islets have similar, yet untouched and pristine beaches. There are four main rivers that run through Bohol with Loboc River being the most famous for its river cruises, running from the center of the island to the southeastern coast. The largest, Inabanga River, runs in the northwestern part of the province. The Abatan River in the southwest, and Ipil river in the north. Numerous waterfalls and caves are scattered across the island, including the beautiful Mag-Aso falls in Antequera. Mag-Aso means smoke in the native tongue. The water is cool and often creates a mist in humid mornings which can hide the falls.

Main Industries

Bohol is essentially an agricultural province. Its main products are rice, coconut, and corn. The province is fast becoming a tourist destination. It is graciously endowed with natural and historical attractions. Infrastructure projects have supplemented their investment potential. Topping Bohol’s natural tourism assets are the wondrous Chocolate Hills which have drawn thousands of foreign and domestic tourists. These perfectly cone-shaped hills that abound in Central Bohol are the only ones of their kind in the world.

Its agricultural area is estimated at 60% of the total land area, or about 256,400 hectares. With most of its land utilized for agriculture, the province is considered as a potential food granary of the Central Visayas region. Coconut is grown in 63,500 hectares. Rice, the staple crop, is cultivated in 50,561 hectares, with irrigated ricelands comprising only about 32%, or 19,259.04 hectares. Corn, on the other hand, is grown in 19,347 hectares. Mango is an emerging product with 120,000 fruit-bearing trees and 180,000 more by the turn of the century. Mango harvest reached 422 metric tons in 1996. But Bohol is best known for its ubi kinampay, an aromatic purple yam. Prawns are directly exported to Japan. Lobster, seaweeds and milkfish are likewise harvested. Seaweeds of the eucheuma variety are cultured and marketed to Cebu for processing into various grades of carageenan. How to Get There

Bohol is located in the central Philippines, and can be conveniently reached by air and boat. Among others, the following airlines fly international routes to Cebu: Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. These flights takes off from either the NAIA Terminal 2 (Centennial Ternimal) or the Manila Domestic Airport. If you come via Manila, you’ll probably want to take a connecting flight to Tagbilaran, which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is also possible to take a boat to Bohol, but will take 25 hours, and is only advisable if you have plenty of time at hand and enjoy a trip on sea, or have to travel on a rock-bottom budget or with a lot of luggage. Currently, there are numerous daily flights from Manila to Tagbilaran. If you fail to catch a direct flight, you can also fly from Manila to Cebu, and then continue by boat. The flying time is about 50 minutes.

The transfer by taxi from the airport to the pier takes about 30 minutes in normal traffic conditions. The following airlines fly from Manila to Cebu: PAL, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, Astro Air, and Grand Air. If you come via Cebu, you can take the one and a half hour trip with a fast boat to Tagbilaran. The regular boat to Tagbilaran will take about four hours. It is also possible to take a boat to Tubigon and Talibon, and a number of other towns on Bohol, which may be more convenient if you want to be on the west or north coast of the island. The most economical way to get from Cebu to Tagbilaran by boat is to catch a ferry to Tubigon, and continue by bus from Tubigon to Tagbilaran. TRANSPORTATION

Bohol is located in the central Philippines, and can be conveniently reached by air and boat. Coming from abroad, you have two options: you can fly to Manila or Cebu. Cebu is the most convenient, but only a limited number of international flights will arrive there. Coming from Europe, you’ll need to have a stop-over in either Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong, however, it will save you the hassle of going through Manila (including a transfer from NAIA to the domestic airport, and dealing with stricter luggage-weight restrictions on domestic flights). Among others, the following airlines fly international routes to Cebu: Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines, and Cathay Pacific. If you come via Manila, you’ll probably want to take a connecting flight to Tagbilaran, which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is also possible to take a boat to Bohol, but will take 25 hours, and is only advisable if you have plenty of time at hand and enjoy a trip on sea, or have to travel on a rock-bottom budget or with a lot of luggage. Currently, there are numerous daily flights from Manila to Tagbilaran. If you fail to catch a direct flight, you can also fly from Manila to Cebu, and then continue by boat. The flying time is about 50 minutes. The transfer by taxi from the airport to the pier takes about 30 minutes in normal traffic conditions, and should cost 165 pesos (2007). The following airlines fly from Manila to Cebu: PAL, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Asian Spirit, Astro Air, and Grand Air. It is always worthwhile to look for a promotional fare if you fly. You can save a considerable amount of money by asking around a little.

Ferry

If you come via Cebu, you can take the one and a half hour trip with a fast boat to Tagbilaran. The regular boat to Tagbilaran will take about four hours. It is also possible to take a boat to Tubigon and Talibon, and a number of other towns on Bohol, which may be more convenient if you want to be on the west or north coast of the island. The most economical way to get from Cebu to Tagbilaran by boat is to catch a ferry to Tubigon, and continue by bus from Tubigon to Tagbilaran. This is sometimes both faster and cheaper than taking a boat directly to Tagbilaran. Note that security regulations on domestic flights in the Philippines no longer allow bringing liquids (such as perfumes and bottles of wine) as carry-on items into the cabin. Even if you had those liquids sealed by duty-free shops on the airport of origin, you may be forced to throw them away if you are not able to place them in your checked-in luggage.

FACILITIES:
Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa is a beautiful resort-spa in Panglao Island which is at the southernmost tip of Bohol, Philippines. It is located halfway through Panglao along its coast facing Bohol Sea. It is a sprawling property which covers 16 hectares. Topography of the resort is varied. It has a gradually ascending cliff, flat land, a ravine, caves and has a commanding view of the sea. On the higher ground of the resort, you can view a mountain with lush vegetation. Down the beach is a long stretch of white, powdery sand up to 5 kilometers, 600 meters of which is part of Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa. The name Eskaya refers to the only known indigenous people of Bohol. The resort is boutique in style which accounts for its exclusivity. Architecture of the building is decidedly Filipino with a splash of modern amenities. The thatched villas or “balai” in the dialect, are single-detached. These are built with sturdy construction materials, but the ample use of indigenous materials for finishing like bamboo, cogon, and wood is emphasized. Most of the villas have individual private swimming pools. The focal point of the resort is the infinity swimming pool which definitely blends with the sea at its bluest.

The spacious restaurant has a cool feeling, yet with a warm ambience and plenty of sea view and swimming pool view. Dining can also be at the beach al fresco, at the poolside and in the garden. The caring staff make your stay more worthwhile and memorable. Their simplicity & graciousness make you feel relaxed & pampered. Handuraw Spa is a big come-on at Eskaya. The spa is tranquil yet modern. It offers a gracious fusion of traditional therapies and modern spa technology, a melting pot of Asian healing practices and rich European spa traditions.The landscape is naturally beautiful.

Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa is a smoke-free property. Dining facilities at the hotel include a restaurant. There is also room service available. The hotel boasts a 24-hour front desk service. A currency exchange facility is also available. Our guests will appreciate the services of a doorman. Other hotel amenities include garden, gift shop/newsstand, library, patio, picnic area, private beach and tennis court(s). Leisure amenities: There is an indoor swimming pool at the hotel. Guests can also enjoy the following spa/wellness facilities: sauna, steam room, on site spa services, full-service health spa. After a long day of business meetings or sightseeing, hotel guests can book a relaxing massage.