While the world wrestled with the Covid-19 pandemic, parts of the country were battered when Typhoon Rai (PH name: Odette) went on a path of destruction “with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 240 kph,” according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Cebu’s beautiful neighboring island, Bohol, was the sixth out of nine landfalls in the Philippines. For the riverside town of Loboc, news had reported estimates of 9,000 residents being displaced, while the popular tourist destination—Loboc River—overflowed putting lives and livelihoods at risk.
Barely three months later, the town is back on its feet, and its nationally renowned Loboc River Cruise is now open to receiving guests after an intense rehabilitation.
“DOT 7 reiterates its commitment to industry players all over the region. We congratulate the Province of Bohol, LGU Loboc and our floating restaurant operators for the initiative to enhance the Loboc River Cruise and for the successful reboot,” said Department of Tourism-Central Visayas (DOT 7) Director Shahlimar Hofer Tamano.
On March 1, four cruise vessels were launched at their maximum 50 percent passenger capacity following protocols prescribed by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases). Other vessels are currently in rehabilitation and four more boats will be serviceable by the end of this month.
Lourdes Sultan, manager of Travel Village Tours, a Loboc River Cruise operator, said the floating restaurants have also resumed the buffet lunch service. Sultan added that cruise operators, besides repairing their vessels after the storm, saw the opportunity to upgrade their vessels’ aesthetic providing tourists an overall enhanced Visayan experience. This is in line with the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council’s direction for tourism facilities to adopt a Visayan theme.
What can guests expect with the new Loboc River Cruise experience? There is a degree of elegance which amplifies the local experience. The boats are now wider, with polished wooden floors, stained glass, capiz and callado details installed.
According to Tamano, the Loboc River Cruise is among various tourism activities “restarting” as the country reopens borders on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic and Odette.
Part of the rehabilitation projects included the separate entrance and exit buildings within the river cruise complex. The two-storey air-conditioned entry facility houses ticket booths and waiting areas seating up to 150 guests with consideration of the IATF distancing protocol. Sultan estimated that the number of visitors have gone up since the opening of the river cruise, with 25 percent of guests non-Filipinos.
Loboc is now “back in business,” Tamano added.
Operators are accepting forward bookings, not only for the river cruise but other tourist sites as well in Bohol. Guests are reminded to bring with them their vaccine cards, certificates or passports upon entry.