Most hotels and resorts in the province particularly in Panglao town are nearly fully booked for the long weekend even amid the reopening of Boracay, one of the country’s top tourism draws.

According to Mayet Gasatan, a member of the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants’ (BAHRR) board of directors, occupancy rate in Panglao is at “85 to 90 percent.”

“Dili ko ka-ingon nga all the resorts are fully booked pero most are fully booked and others are very high ang occupancy,” said Gasatan.

Both local and foreign tourists started to pour in for the long weekend which started on Thursday for the All Saints’ Day, which is widely observed in the country.

Gasatan said that tourist influx is expected to further increase in the following weeks with the opening of the Bohol Panglao International Airport and the nearing Christmas season.

“During this season, sa Bohol especially g’yud in Panglao, high ang atong occupancy sa rooms especially coming ang atong holidays, Christmas season,” she added.

Boracay reopened its doors to the public on October 26 after a six-month rehabilitation of the world-famous island.

It was closed to tourists starting April 26 to pave way for its environmental rehabilitation after President Rodrigo Duterte said that it had become a “cesspool.”

Department of Tourism officials, after the closure, projected then that other tourist destinations including Bohol will have to absorb some of Boracay’s market. (R. Rutas)