Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) Airports, in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the Department of Tourism Central Visayas Office and the Provincial Government of Bohol, recently supported a Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Immersive Tour in Bohol from April 21 to 24. The tour brought together key tourism stakeholders—including chefs, key opinion leaders (KOLs), Destination Management Companies (DMCs), and travel trade representatives—to experience and showcase the province’s rich cultural and culinary heritage beyond the usual.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen tourism pathways that directly benefit local communities—connecting travelers not only to destinations, but to the people, traditions, and livelihoods that define them.
At the center of the program was a curated journey through Bohol’s communities, where participants engaged in hands-on experiences—from harvesting ingredients at Bellevue Farm to learning the intricate process behind asin tibuok production in Alburquerque, and crafting traditional tablea chocolate in Lasang Farm.
The immersion brought together ten Destination Management Companies (DMCs), who experienced these activities firsthand and are expected to develop curated tourism packages that integrate community-based experiences into future travel offerings. The program also featured culinary demonstrations by Michelin-recognized chefs, alongside documentation by media and lifestyle influencers, helping bring wider attention to Bohol as an emerging culinary and cultural destination.
Joining the program were TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles and representatives from its Domestic Promotions and Marketing & Communications teams, alongside AIC Vice President and Head of Airports Rafael M. Aboitiz, who participated in the opening day of the immersion. Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado also welcomed participants during the opening dinner at Bohol Bee Farm.
“At Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports, we see tourism not just as movement, but as connection—with infrastructure such as Bohol-Panglao International Airport opening pathways for communities to share their stories, culture, and pride, and shape more meaningful travel experiences,” said AIC Vice President and Head of Airports Rafael M. Aboitiz, who led AIC Airports’ active participation in TPB’s recent CBT.
For TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, initiatives like this are meant to deepen understanding of destinations beyond surface-level experiences:
“Tourism is not only about destinations, but about relationships—between people and place, between culture and environment, and between what we show the world and what we choose to preserve. In Bohol, we see how this balance can be achieved, where tourism becomes both meaningful and mindful.”
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle “Aris” C. Aumentado underscored the importance of initiatives that strengthen community participation in tourism and expand opportunities for local livelihoods: “Tourism in Bohol continues to evolve through partnerships that empower our communities and showcase what makes our province unique. Initiatives like this help ensure that growth is shared, creating more opportunities for our people while preserving the culture and traditions that define Bohol.”
Throughout the four-day immersion, participants explored a range of experiences that showcased Bohol’s identity—from a Loboc River cruise featuring a live cooking demonstration, to visits to heritage and eco-tourism sites such as the Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella, the Chocolate Hills, and Kinaiyahan Forest Park, where a tree-planting activity reinforced the importance of sustainability.
They also engaged with local artisans, including raffia weavers in Tubigon, and participated in farm and community immersions such as paddleboarding experiences at Fox and Firefly Cottages—highlighting how tourism can directly support grassroots enterprises.
By bringing together government, private sector partners, and local communities, the initiative demonstrates how coordinated efforts can unlock new opportunities for destinations—supporting job creation, strengthening local enterprises, and encouraging more inclusive growth.
With gateways like Bohol-Panglao International Airport enabling access to the province, such initiatives help ensure that tourism growth is not only sustained, but shared—empowering communities to take an active role in shaping the experiences they offer to the world.
AIC Airports, alongside its partners, continues to support efforts that elevate the Filipino brand of service—where every journey becomes an opportunity to connect, uplift, and create lasting impact for both travelers and the communities they visit.
