MANILA – The age restriction on Western Visayas tourists visiting Boracay Island has been removed, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced last night.
The famous tourist destination in Aklan province is now open to all tourists from Region 6, including those below 21 years old and those above 60 years old, according to Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.
“This move aims to further reinvigorate the tourism economy in the region and address the clamor of Boracay stakeholders to attract more tourists to the island,” said Puyat.
DOT’s announcement came a week after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque urged Western Visayans to visit Boracay following reports of low tourist turnout.
“Pinadalhan ako ng aking mga kaibigan sa Boracay ng data na nagpapakita na bagamat bukas na po ang Boracay sa turismo, napaka-kaunti pa rin po ng mga nagpupunta sa isla,” Roque said in a virtual press conference.
He added: “Iyong mga karatig lugar diyan po sa Boracay, bukas na po ang isla up to 50 percent. Punta naman po tayo kasi doon. Sa data na ipinadala sa akin, parang 54 tourists pa lang ang na record doon sa isang araw na pumasok ng Boracay.”
The national government earlier approved the reopening of Boracay only to residents of Western Visayas, a region comprising of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force also has set other strict policies including age limits that ban people below 21 years old and above 60 years old while only guests with confirmed hotel or resort bookings will be allowed.
As of July 23, DOT Western Visayas had issued a total of 115 certificates of authority to operate (CAO) to accommodation establishments, covering some 2,635 health protocols-compliant rooms./PN
