The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Bohol Island State University (BISU) have launched a Web-based platform designed to connect tourists with verified guides, tour operators and transport providers while giving local authorities access to visitor data.
The Laag Bohol Web App was unveiled on July 23 in Tagbilaran City as the province grapples with a sharp decline in tourist arrivals.
Data from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development showed that arrivals in Bohol fell 59% to 170,016 in the first quarter of 2026 from 417,142 a year earlier. Domestic arrivals dropped 73%, while foreign arrivals declined 40%.
Developed by researchers from the BISU Balilihan Campus, the platform includes a centralized directory of verified tourism providers, online training modules for tour guides, visitor feedback tools and promotional information on local destinations.
It also provides tourism authorities with data management and analytics features intended to help them track visitor needs, assess services and guide tourism policies.
“Through the Laag Bohol Web app, tourism officials can use real-time data on visitor needs and experiences to improve services, make better decisions, and support sustainable growth. This is the kind of technology we want for Filipinos — innovation that solves real problems and creates opportunities for communities,” DOST secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said.
The DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development provided P1 million for the project through its Regional Research Institution Program. BISU contributed another P150,000.
BISU conducted beta testing with the Bohol Provincial Tourism Office and the Bohol Island Tour Guides Association of the Philippines. It also consulted the Panglao Tourism Office, tour guides, operators and transport providers during the platform’s development.
“What began as a research initiative at Bohol Island State University has evolved into a digital platform with the potential to strengthen tourism services, support evidence-based decision-making, and contribute to the long-term competitiveness of the tourism sector,” DOST-PCIEERD deputy executive director and officer-in-charge Ninaliza H. Escorial said.
Bohol, which has been designated a Unesco Global Geopark, is a major Philippine tourist destination known for its geological formations, biodiversity and cultural sites.
