By Ric V. Obedencio
The Bohol Chronicle
The aggressive campaign of Bohol's growing tourism industry, dubbed as the number one tourist destination in the country, was bolstered with the visit last week of a 36-member multi-race group called "Friends of Philippines."
Public Relations Officer Rosario "Chit" Afuang of the London-based tourism office confirmed this in an interview with the Bohol Chronicle.
Former British ambassador to the Philippines Paul Dimond, in a separate interview, said he would help promote Bohol in London.
Afuang and Dimond accompanied the group composed of expats - British, American, French and even Latin American. Most of them are members of the Overseas Women's Club and had worked, studied or lived in the country before.
"Friends Philippines program" is organized by Department of Tourism in London, England. It was launched during the 2005 World Travel Mart held in London.
The program is to tap the expats as "marketers" of the Philippine tourism, including Bohol, and help DOT promote the country in areas where they are now.
The whole program runs for 16 days (Nov.15-30, 2007) and Bohol is a major highlight of the itinerary.
DOT-London also organized "Travel Philippines," tapping Filipino overseas workers to be marketers of the country.
The group was very much impressed of the living voices of the world renowned and multi-awarded Loboc Children's Choir performed for almost 30 minutes at centuries-old Loboc Music Museum.
After that, they cruised the Loboc River upstream and took their lunch at floating restaurant prior to scaling to the world famous Chocolate Hills in Carmen town.
Paul Dimond said he was amazed of the beauty of the place (Choco Hills) because this was his first time to crisscross the countrysides here since he was assigned as envoy in 2002-2004. But this was his second time in Bohol.
"I fully support the program that the DOT in the United Kingdom to promote the Philippines," Paul Dimond said.
He added that London has already supported the promotional campaign such as the putting up of "Wow Philippines" on the side of "black" cabs and recently the use of double-decker buses in London.
Carmen Mayor Manuel Molina welcomed Dimond and his group at the Chocolate Hills complex.
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