TAGBILARAN CITY, August 11 (PIA)–- Making Bohol into a destination of comfort moves further as the Regional Development Council (RDC) now resolves to ask the maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to request shipping companies to set up airline-type online electronic booking (e-booking) and solve the discomfort brought about by the manual ticket queuing.
Complaints from international travelers booking their tickets and travel accommodations online resound in Bohol even a key accommodation operator in Panglao Bohol noted that he is fast losing his customers to the hassles of connecting travel from abroad to Bohol.
Alona Citadel owner David Bailey earlier bemoaned the problem of international travelers getting Bohol connecting travel because shipping companies serving Bohol from Cebu do not accept online bookings.
Moreover, he said the lack of a seamless travel facility from Mactan airport to the port of Cebu adds to the piling problem.
Appealing to the Provincial Tourism Council and key Bohol officials, Bailey, along with resort owners believe that urging shipping companies to open up airline type online booking facilities can abate the hassles.
Imagine a family on vacation toting heavy luggage inside the port departure building finding out that they still need to go out and get their tickets outside, Bailey pointed out.
To this, during the RDC Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting last May 31, Technical Working Group on Port Passenger Terminal Services in its End-of-Term Report presented the solution they deemed would keep Bohol abreast with the strides of the times.
While the EDC members expressed concern for the risks to personal health and safety of ship passengers lining up to buy passage tickets outside the environs of the port areas, they also resolved that an online ticketing system implemented by domestic shipping companies especially serving Bohol would be a huge development.
The EDC members think an online booking facility would drastically reduce the long queues in ticketing outlets, many of which are still located outside the safety premises of the ports.
Moreover, they argued that an online system, such as the ones provided by online airline ticketing system, could cut operating costs for shipping companies, while improving their efficiency and largely improving their services.
Such move, when implemented would also contribute to productivity and economic development, according to EDC.
Along this line, the RDC, in its meeting in Bohol months ago, resolved to urge MARINA to enjoin domestic shipping companies to put up online ticketing system and make travel to Bohol seamless. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
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