KALIBO, Aklan – The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 6 hopes that Western Visayas could regain tourist arrivals amid the ongoing closure and rehabilitation of Boracay Island.
There was a steep decline in the number of tourist arrivals in the region after President Rodrio Duterte ordered the island resort to be shut.
The up-to-six-month closure beginning last April 26 paved the way for rehabilitation efforts in Boracay.
DOT regional director Helen Catalbas said they are optimistic that developing cruise and drive tourism circuits will help increase tourist arrivals in in Western Visayas.
“We need to recoup the one million tourists we are going to lose due to Boracay’s rehabilitation,” Catalbas said.
In mid-June, the DOT will launch the cruise circuits in Iloilo City, Guimaras, Capiz, northern Iloilo, and Antique.
The drive circuit, on the other hand, will be launched in Manapla, Cadiz City, San Carlos City, Sipaway Island in Negros Occidental.
“The cruise and drive circuits will make use of speed boats and other boats in Boracay that were displaced due to rehabilitation,” Catalbas added.
The DOT is also working with tourism stakeholders and local government units in 6 Western Visayan provinces for the projected gradual return for tourists in the region.
Catalbas said they are actively hosting foreign and local operators and travel media in familiarization tours in mainland Panay, Negros Occidental and Guimaras.
The DOT also distributed lists of accredited transport tourist directions to other destinations in Western Visayas and other regions in collaboration with Department of Transportation.
When Boracay closed, the DOT has given travel information, advisories and thank-you cards to departing visitors. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
