BORACAY, Aklan – The provincial government requires a standard for consumer confidence before fully reopening this world-class resort island to domestic tourists.
Gov. Florencio Miraflores said the standard is needed for tourists to be assured they will not be infected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) when they visit the island.
“Based on the survey conducted by the Department of Tourism recently, Boracay remains to be the preferred tourism destination among tourists. We wanted to secure Boracay as a COVID-19- free tourism destination,” he said.
Each hotel in the world-class island is now being required to hire a health attendant to ensure the safety of staff and tourists against the viral illness.
Aklan will also be opening a COVID-19 laboratory where tourists suspected to have the virus will be tested.
“We hope that if these health protocols are in place, tourists will promote among their friends and on social media how safe it is coming to Boracay,” said Miraflores.
Second District Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr., for his part, said he is looking at other tourism areas around the world to see how they would manage tourism in Boracay amid the pandemic.
“The introduction of a bubble tourism is one of those best practices. We are looking for more possible practices that we could replicate in Boracay,” said Haresco./PN
