BORACAY – The coronavirus disease pandemic has crippled the tourism and travel industries but stakeholders here are expecting this year to be significantly better than last year.
Many lost their jobs here as a result of the unprecedented slump in international tourist arrivals.
The government also introduced travel restrictions in an attempt to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Now, there are good signs. Domestic tourists have started returning to Boracay although not in pre-pandemic numbers.
Between June 1 and June 27, domestic tourist arrivals reached 23,599 – but these were barely half the tourist numbers before the pandemic.
The month of May also posted 1,777 visitors.
Holidaymakers from the National Capital Region accounted for 64 percent of the tourist arrivals, data from the Malay, Aklan Municipal Tourism Office showed.
“Hopefully it would be sustained,” said Malay, Aklan chief tourism operations officer Felix Delos Santos Jr.
Boracay, a P63- billion industry in 2019, is popular among backpackers and visitors.
There are 276 accommodation establishments accredited by the Department of Tourism as of June 30.
There are no new protocols when entering Boracay. Still required of visitors are their negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken at most 72 hours before travel; confirmed booking with a hotel accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT), itinerary or flight details; identification card; QR code; and registration with the S-PaSS (Safe, Swift and Smart Passage) System.
“We are stringent in implementing health and safety protocol,” said Delos Santos./PN
