In the competitive world of tourism, Bohol is definitely going global. By global, this means that Bohol is ready along with nearby Cebu to host the United Nations-World Tourism Organization's 6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities on October 22-25. A top official of UN-WTO is coming next month to lay the ground works for the coming big event here. . Rep. Edgar Chatto reported during the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) meeting Thursday that the February 2-3 visit of Dominique Bernardette, chief of the UNWTO International Conferences Department, is aimed to assess the proposed venues and logistics of the global event. As many as 300 delegates from 156 countries are expected to come for the first world assembly of tourism and related policy makers in 2008, according to the congressman in the meeting led by PTC chair Peter Dejaresco and Gov. Erico Aumentado.

The Philippines earned the right to host the global gathering after winning the bid during the 5th UNWTO Conference in Tunisia , South Africa in June of 2007. Chatto, chair of the tourism committee in Congress since 2004, and Department of Tourism (DOT) Planning Director Allan Canizal presented and defended the country's interest to host the event with technical visit to Bohol . Cebu is the main venue. The solon said the Philippine bid drew support from fellow ASEAN member nations and even earned the backing of China , then the strongest contender for the hosting right. While in the country, UNWTO's Bernardette will meet with DOT Sec. Ace Durano, Sen. Richard Gordon, Usec. Edu Jarque, Usec. Phineas Alburo, Regional Dir. Dawnie Roa, Canizal and Chatto.

In Bohol , Bernardette will be escorted by the first district solon and PTC chair Dejaresco in her courtesy visits to the Bohol officials headed by the governor and local tourism industry key players. In the PTC meeting, Chatto attributed the lucky Philippine bid to host the UNWTO forum to the diplomatic dialogues that simply served well the country's position. Foreign counterparts hailed the spirited and exceptional lobbying by the Chatto-led Philippine delegation as one of the best-admired sidelights in-between the high-profile Tunisia conference of the UNWTO.

The UNWTO gathering this year hosted by the Philippines was launched last November in Cartagena de Indias , Colombia on the occasion of the UNWTO General Assembly. Cong. Chatto led the 3-man Philippine delegation to Colombia General Assembly to officially turnover conference materials to UNWTO Sec. Gen. Francesco Frangialli and hold preparatory meeting with key UN-WTO officials. He was assisted by DOT Usec. Phineas Alboro and Director Cañizal. A recent global survey thru a website known to international travelers and tourists named Bohol as now one of the world's ten best travel sites otherwise “never heard of before.”

The Bohol Tourism Office (BTO) recorded 107, 377 foreign and 372,960 domestic arrivals—or a total of 480,337 arrival—here from January to November last year. One of Bohol 's first-time visitors in 2007 was US Ambassador Kristine Kenny, who later wrote to Chatto and described this island-province to be at par with the world's best in eco-cultural tourism. UNWTO is a specialized agency of the United Nations addressing global policy issues on tourism and related industries.