BORACAY – Covid vaccine booster shots for international tourists and domestic travelers are offered in Boracay Island. This means booster jabs are at no extra cost to ensure their protection against new Covid-19 variants.
Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced that tourists traveling to Boracay Island can get free booster doses to combat the evolving coronavirus.
Puyat, who was accompanied
by National Task Force Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. and deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar Vivencio Dizon, flew to Boracay Island on February 11, 2022, for the launching of Resbakuna sa Botika in Citymall Boracay and pediatric vaccination for 5 to 11 years old in Paradise Garden Resort.
“Lahat ng turista na papunta dito, foreigner o domestic, ay libre ang booster shots dito sa Watsons,” she said.
Meanwhile, Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores thanked the national government for prioritizing Boracay Island in the vaccination drive for residents and tourism workers.
“We have to push for the vaccination to revive the travel and tourism industry. It is crucial to vaccinate the tourism workforce on the island for the recovery of vital
industry,” he added.
Boracay Island has reached a 102.51 percent vaccination rate among its tourism workers, while 15.29 percent already received their booster shots. Last June, the province launched the vaccination of tourism workers.
The island noted a huge climb in tourist arrivals for the months of November and December. But, the influx of domestic travelers slowed down after tightened entry requirements were imposed amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in January.
“For a matter of one week, we were able to go back to our old numbers, from 400 to 500 tourists daily to 2,000, which is good for everyone,” the governor added.
The country also opened its borders to vaccinate foreign tourists on February 10 without the need to quarantine them.
Miraflores said Boracay Island is ready to accept a large number of foreign tourists again after two-year restrictions./PN
