Tourism maps of Bohol have been launched to guide tourists in the province.

The project, funded by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), was done after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the provincial government, headed by Governor Edgar Chatto, and the Bohol Island State University, represented by its president, Dr. Elpidio Magante. Since then, "a series of researches and drafts, consultation meeting was carried out in order to welcome thoughts and accept affirmative suggestions to polish the project. Spot inspection was also done to have an ocular checking of the different beauty spots," according to Kim Kwang Nam, a renowned tourism expert once working for the UN, and senior volunteer by KOICA sent to Bohol. By the end of August this year, after months of work to portray Bohol as one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines, the maps and brochure were published, said Kim. The maps (see photos) show the tourist attractions in Bohol, such as: Alona Beach in Panglao town; Punta Cruz watchtower in Maribojoc; Pamilacan Island in Baclayon; man-made forest in Bilar; Blood Compact Shrine in Tagbilaran City; Chocolate Hills and the Tarsier Sanctuary, among others.

The brochure features interesting sites, such as the largest man-made mangrove plantation in Aisa and the Double Barrier Reef Marine Park; list of accommodations and travel agencies; festivals like the Bohol Sandugo, the Katigbawan festival in Catigbian; restaurants, fastfoods and shopping centers. Song Minh Yeon, resident representative of KOICA-Philippines, in his speech during the launching, said Bohol is very popular for Koreans because of its beautiful and world-renowned attractions. This popularity of Bohol and the Philippines is shown on the data that of the total 3.8 million tourists who visited the country in past year, 1.2 millions of them were Koreans, said Song, adding that Panglao is one of the top ten dive sites in the country because of its "unparalleled underwater treasures." Magante, for his part, considered Philippines and Korea close friends citing help of the country during the Korean war. He thanked KOICA that made BISU "interact closer" with them (Koreans). (Ric V. Obedencio/FREEMAN)