kaban galing - front cover - galing pook

Ecotourism knowledge has increased public appreciation of the
environment and fostered awareness of environmental concerns. People
are now in closer contact with nature and have developed the conscious
desire to preserve their surroundings. Biodiversity improvement in coastal
areas have increased fish catch, cleared up waters and produced a
thriving marine and tourism culture.
Culture is Marketable
Complementing the projects and programs based on the natural
environment (which count in the chocolate hills and the tarsier) are those
based on Bohol’s cultural heritage and living culture: dugout burial coffins,
a speech art form called nilambay with poets alternately declaiming in
philosophical verse for days on end, colonial houses, a 300-year old
bell and a church and convent built in the 17 th century. And then there is
the world-acclaimed Loboc Children’s choir.
Bohol has succeeded in positioning itself as a competitive
ecotourism destination, an enchanting tourism giant with plenty to offer.
Local tourism councils have also increased, widening the opportunities
to inculcate environmental values among its people. Once sleepy
communities have now become active, dynamic and self-sustaining.
The strategy employed is anchored on the use, development and
protection of the natural resources as well as the preservation and
management of cultural heritage. Framework programs and local
legislation gave structure to the efforts to get the entire population behind
the programs.
Having realized the promise of ecotourism and the need to protect
the natural resources, stakeholders designed an ecotourism destination
development plan in which zoning is integrated.
Then there is the practical tutoring in skills and business
management. Special courses in environmental protection and planning
are still being conducted. People involved in the Marine Life Tours are
also trained in marine ecosystem biology and ecology, mangroove
interpretation, cetacean guidelines, tour quality control and safety,
snorkeling, tour interpretation skills, public speaking, bookkeeping, boat
captains and spotters interaction, trainings on community food catering
and serving, tour guiding, first aid, and many more. These activities
permit locals to self-govern and have decision-making abilities. They
become accountable for their own resources.
74 Kaban Galing