19/09/2025
๐๐ผ๐ต๐ผ๐นโ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ: ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฑ
, hailed as the Philippinesโ Best Destination (Tourism Awards, September 2025) and the countryโs first and only UNESCO Global Geopark, has once again come to the forefrontโnot for growth this time, but for the troubling decline in both local and foreign tourist arrivals. These prestigious titles set a high bar, reminding us that recognition comes with responsibility: to sustain tourism while safeguarding the very natural heritage that makes Bohol exceptional.
While rising travel costs play a role, many locals and tourism operators point to the indefinite suspension of interaction activities in Lila, Alburquerque, and Dauis since February 2025. The ban was enforced after it was revealed that whale sharks were being illegally lured and fed with krillโtiny shrimp-like crustaceans that are a vital food source for many marine animals but not part of the whale sharksโ natural diet. Feeding them krill disrupts their behavior, creates dependence on humans, and interferes with their natural migration patterns.
The practice also brings pollution and ecological damage. Leftover alters water quality and can trigger algal blooms, while discarded plastic packaging and fuel leaks from boats add to marine debris and chemical contamination. Coral reefs and seagrass beds, which serve as nurseries for fish and natural barriers for coastal protection, suffer from these disturbances. In the long run, such unsustainable practices undermine the very resources that attract visitors to Bohol.
Today, as we mark the third day of World Clean and Green Week (September 17โ23), we are reminded that environmental protection is inseparable from sustainable tourism. The National Museum of the Philippines Boholโmandated not only to promote appreciation of heritage but also to ensure its preservation and conservationโcalls on the provinceโs 1.3 million residents to act with government in putting an end to these destructive practices.
Since Boholโs designation in May 2023, many have asked: โWhatโs in it for me?โ The answer lies not in short-term profit, but in long-term stewardship. ๐๐ง๐ช๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ง๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ, ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ช๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐-๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ค ๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ช๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐.
