The latest data from the Bohol Tourism Office showed that from January to June this year, 116,153 tourists arrived in Bohol, up from 76,570 in the same period last year.
BTO chief Josephine Cabarus said the considerable increase surprised them because they only expected a 5% increase this year.
Cabarus said most of their tourists at 112,879, were locals.
She said their data showed that 3,259 foreign tourists and 15 overseas Filipino workers arrived during the period of six months.
The tourism official cited the relaxing health safety protocols in the province, particularly the lifting of entry requirements, as reasons for the massive tourist influx in the province this year.
Cabarus is confident the figures in the first six months will double in the final half of the year.
"Our tourist arrivals might reach 200,000 by the end of the year," Cabarus said.(Romeo Braceros Jr.)
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