AROUND 382 guests and 295 crew of the luxury Silver Shadow cruise ship docked at the Tagbilaran Port in Bohol on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.
Silver Shadow is the first cruise ship to visit Bohol after the Covid-19 pandemic. It is operated by Silversea Cruises that first set sail in 2000.
About 197 passengers of the luxury cruise ship went on a whole-day tour visiting the cultural and eco-tourism sites around the island, such as the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella and the various baroque colonial churches in Bohol.
“We are grateful that Bohol was chosen as one of the destinations of the Silver Shadow. We hope that this is an opening for Bohol to be a famous destination for the cruise industry,” said Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado in a statement.
Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap vowed to work closely with the province of Bohol in luring more tourists to come to the island amid the so-called “revenge travel” that is now a trend happening globally.
“We are proud of the strong partnership with Tagbilaran City and the Provincial Government. We are very proud to have international tourists come to our province and host them here in Tagbilaran. We are also preparing for our Tagbilaran Tourism Plan, in partnership with the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office, that will cater to more international visitors to the province,” Yap said.
Lourdes Sultan of Travel Village and vice chairperson of the Provincial Tourism Council said Bohol expects more cruise ships to dock on the island with the easing of travel restrictions.
Silver Shadow also visited Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte, on Friday, Feb. 10.
Passengers who joined the excursion were treated to “infinite escapes” in the region, according to Department of Tourism Easter Visayas Director Karen Tiopes. / KOC