TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 13 (PIA) -- Enjoy massive discounts and once-in-a-lifetime offers as Bohol puts up its first ever tourism campaign after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shut down its economic activity in March of last year.

The online sale dubbed Balik sa Bohol started on Feb. 21 and ends on March 14.

The sale is participated in by 13 resorts, hotels and tourism accommodation establishments, one adventure park, and six local tour operators, all of which have earned their Department of Tourism (DOT) Certificates of Authority to Operate, or the local government permits and each holder of the Ultimate Bohol Experience (UBE) seal.

The Balik sa Bohol Online Sale group promised to make the tourists' return to Bohol exciting and memorable, organizers said.

TRAVEL BUBBLE. Tourists to Bohol can travel to sites and destinations that have been granted by DOT the Certificate Authority to Operate, or LGU permitted and UBE Seal grantee from the provincial government, as long as they do not veer away from the tour itinerary provided by their DOT-accredited tour agent and travel only in designated areas like Lamanoc caves in Anda with DOT-accredited transport providers. (rahc /PIA-7/Bohol)

First of Bohol's possible many tempting offers for tourists to come, the online sale is supported by the DOT, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Cebu Pacific, DOT Region 7.

Balik sa Bohol came at a time when Bohol has announced the need for only a negative COVID-19 test result via the cheaper saliva-Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), a confirmed booking for accommodations, and the Bohol Tour QR Code.

Balik sa Bohol sale buyers need to log on to https://traveloco.ph/balikbohol to get as much as 70 percent off on room rates, tours, and other allied tourism services on their visit to Bohol.

The offer is also good for Boholanos in Bohol, according to Gov. Arthur Yap.

Everyone buying the Bohol visit and tour, however, has to be guided by the tourist bubble concept.

By tourist bubble concept, it means that a COVID-19 negative tourist has to stay together with his group, travel only on travels organized by a DOT-accredited tour operator on board a DOT-accredited transport provider, and go to tours only in designated stops, never veering away from their established itinerary.

It may be recalled that as early as Nov. 15, 2020, Bohol has allowed tourists who attend meetings, incentives, conventions and conferences, and exhibits (MICE) and events to come to Bohol in the travel bubble concept.

A few days later, following the same concept, Bohol again issued the same to free and independent travelers.

This is as long as the tourist can present to Bohol a negative COVID-19 test result via an RT PCR and the test should be taken 72 hours before flying to Bohol, present a confirmed hotel booking, and a registered Bohol Tourist QR Code.

This is to revive the tourism sector that has fed so many Boholanos who are working in the different tourism services designed to make a Bohol vacation as seamless and as memorable as can be.

DOT is now eyeing Bohol as among the country's leading new normal destinations, alongside Palawan and Boracay, according to Atty. Antonette Velasco of the TPB. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)