Bohol’s Major Industries
Tourism
Tourist Arrival
Bohol experience a steady increase in tourist arrivals before the pandemic, and recent post-pandemic figures show a fast and positive recovery in the industry, with 2023 tourist arrivals surpassing one million. This indicates that tourist traffic in Bohol is on a rebound.
Accommodation Facilities
Aggressive investments in the accommodation sector grew significantly over the past decade, although figures slightly tapered during the pandemic. However, the industry quickly bounced back, with most resorts reopening and more large-scale projects currently under development. The entry of these large establishments will cater to an increasing number of tourists, particularly high-spending visitors.
Source: Department of Tourism (DOT) and Bohol Provincial Tourism Office (BPTO), 2023
Agriculture
Bohol ranked third in Central Visayas for its share of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, contributing 23.8%, amounting to PhP 19.9 billion. In contrast, the region’s Highly Urbanized Cities contributed less than 1.8% each. The bulk of the agriculture, forestry, and fishing share in the country comes from the provinces with large territorial jurisdictions.
Share of Provinces and HUC’s to the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing of Central Visayas, At Constant 2028 Prices, in Percent, 2022
Agriculture: Crops
Bohol is the food granary of Central Visayas, being the region’s top producer of rice and having the highest agricultural land utilization rate. The province has a total land area of 273,950 hectares, with majority of the land in 2023 planted and harvested for crops such as rice and coconut.
Area Planted / Harvested, 2023
Agriculture: Livestock and Poultry
Bohol’s livestock and poultry industry continues to be a major contributor to the region’s total production.
Inventory of Livestock
Inventory of Poultry
Chicken
Duck
Agriculture: Fisheries
Volume of Production of the Top Five (5) Species of Aquaculture Fisheries Subsector (in metric tons)
Volume of Production of the Top Five (5) Species of Municipal Fisheries Subsector (in metric tons)
Volume of Production of the Top Five (5) Species of Inland Fisheries Subsector (in metric tons)
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 2023
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Bohol’s recent connection to the national fiber optic network has opened up significant growth for the IT-BPM sector, poised to make a substantial contribution to the economy. Its central location in the region makes it convenient for talent to relocate to Bohol, and for Boholanos to return home. Testimonials from businesses already established in the area highlight that Boholanos excel in attendance, retention, and client experience. Additionally, Tagbilaran City has been recognized as one of the Digital Cities 2025 by the DICT and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), positioning it as a prime destination for global investments.
- Bohol has four (4) BPM locators currently employing Boholanos.
Source: 14th NICP Summit Report, November 2022 in Tagbilaran City
Technological advancements has spurred a breeding ground of young and independent startups whose presence are located even outside Tagbilaran City, based on registered enterprises. However, it is expected that there are more freelance workers in Bohol who offer various expertise and services that enable them to work on digital platforms.
Small and Micro IT Enterprises (SMITEs) in the Province (2019 – 2023)
Source: Bohol Business One-Stop Shop / Negosyo Center – Bohol, 2023
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector has an important role in Bohol’s local economy that stimulates economic activities even in rural and far-flung areas.
Annual Business Name Registration
The business registration for 2023 declined which is below the average of 7,752 in the previous three years. However, there is an increasing trend of the renewal of business name. For 2023, new business name registration and renewal generated PhP 1.163 billion of investments and 6,640 employment.
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Bohol, 2023
Business Permits Issued by Local Government Units (LGUs) in 2023
Business permits that are issued by Local Government Units are the life-blood of the Municipal LGUs which have yielded a total Php 1.373 Billion in collection, taxes, fees, and other charges. In the Province of Bohol, business permits issued were dominantly given to micro-enterprises with a share of 70.72%.
Source: Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Bohol, 2023