By Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 14(PIA)
-- As Bohol hosts the 2nd Philippine Dragon Boat Festival (PDBF) International
Club Crew Challenge 2013 in April, tourism stakeholders and local officials
here see it as a vehicle for the local tourism industry to grow further.
In a recent coordination meeting following the project presentation of the
event weeks back, tourism stakeholders, sports enthusiasts as well as local
officials agreed the PDBF will be a window of opportunity to showcase the best
of Bohol to an international crowd.
The event will also further expand the benefits of the competition and boost
local tourism.
Bohol’s hosting the event would attract a horde of foreign and local tourists,
and open countless business opportunities, local organizers said.
Aside from these, the PDBF in Bohol could boost the province’s image as a
sports destination, giving tourists more reasons to come at the same time
bolstering a positive image as a great destination.
Bohol Executive Committee Chair Charlie Holganza revealed that part of the
activity’s proceeds would go to a corporate social responsibility project in
Bohol, especially near the race course.
Already recognized in 74 countries, dragonboat rowing has been a sport which
Filipinos can excel, PDBF secretary General Pinky Castillo earlier said
Nonette Bolo, chairman of the Bohol Federation of Tour and Travel Operators,
who was present during the coordination meeting said her group would come up
with packages to make sure the international competitors can get a Bohol teaser
in a tour, enough reason for them to go back.
Earlier, PDBF presented to Bohol officials the concept of the festival and a
timeline which, when followed, would assure the success of the first major
dragonboat event in Bohol.
Eyed to be held at the shallow strait between mainland Bohol and Dauis in
Panglao Island, organizers hope to showcase the area as a historic site of the
famed Dapitan Kingdom.
Bolo further said that in order to achieve Bohol’s ambitious dream of making
the province as the ‘Dragonboat Capital of the Philippines,’ all-out efforts
must be done to ensure the PDBF must be a successful one and perhaps plan
another dragonboat event.
Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, meanwhile, has seen the immense potential of the
event in further pushing local growth and has instructed Provincial Sports
Coordinator Joel Molina thru Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio, to prepare
the necessary groundwork.
Newly-formed Bohol Paddlers Association and rowing enthusiast Dr. Doyet
Dumaluan on the other hand, assured that they would help the organizers, the
local government, business, tourism and outdoor sports enthusiasts to ensure
that the vision to pin the dragonboat capital to Bohol is achieved.
To date, the PDBF has sent instructors to train interested individuals and
teams in the art of dragon-boat racing.
This is to help train locals who will be joining tune-up competitions in March,
before Bohol’s teams could be picked for the international races, Holganza
said.
Interested groups willing to participate in the local competitions can contact
Bohol Capitol or any BPA member for details. (FCR/RAHC/PIA-Bohol)