BY: MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
The pristine island of Boracay in Malay, Aklan is one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines, known for its white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and majestic sunset.
Approximately seven kilometers long, the three-barangay island has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers, with its narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide. It is less than a kilometer off the northwest corner of mainland Panay Island.
Just in time for the holiday celebrations, Panay News was given the chance to again experience its majestic beauty and be able to interact with tourists about their experiences and what they liked about the place.
According to “Lorna,” a cruiser from the United States, she has heard tales of Boracay’s beauty and decided to join an excursion on the island.
“We came here because we heard that this is one of the most beautiful beaches,” Lorna said, noting the people’s friendly demeanor.
She also plans to come back to Boracay for another holiday.
Meanwhile, a group of female South Koreans said they visited the island because one of their peers who used to visit the place suggested it.
They enjoyed strolling around, shopping, and, of course, swimming.
The group of friends also plans to visit again once they have time.
Another set of tourists were teachers from Europe, Emma and Emmalyn, who stayed on the island for a few days.
They said that the island was beautiful but noted that the food needs some improvement.
“The world is big; you can only go to one place at a time,” said Emmalyn.
Also from the United States were the couple Crystal and Will, who were celebrating their anniversary on the island for two days.
“The hospitality is very good; people are very kind and nice, and we appreciate that,” Crystal said.
In the first 10 months of 2023, international arrivals to Boracay Island have reached 381,730, up by 355 percent compared to the same period last year with 83,784, according to the Malay Municipal Tourism Office.
Crystal also noticed that she had not seen a lot of Filipino food, contrary to what she was expecting.
“The food so far is good, but I noticed there is not a lot of Filipino food. I think you guys should incorporate more Filipino food. I feel like you guys try to cater more to tourists’ palates,” Crystal added, stressing that she wanted to try chicken adobo but hadn’t been able to during her stay.
Will, on the other hand, shared his experience with the paper requirements and processes before their arrival.
“Coming over here is tough; there is so much paperwork, too many papers handed, and we have to pay a terminal fee, a boat ferry fee, and an environmental fee,” Will said.
Although he understands and is willing to pay, especially the environmental fee, the long lines and queues made it tough.
“I was stressed by the time I got here; it was tough,” said Will.
In a recent meeting of the 2nd Boracay-Caticlan Sustainable Development Council, among the topics discussed was how to improve services and make the island more tourist-friendly, be it local or foreign. These included allowing beach beds and umbrellas, extending night swimming time to 9 p.m., allowing food and drinks in party boats, suspending fees for foreign tour guides, and having a unified ticket on Jetty Port.
The provincial government of Aklan has also lifted one of its entry requirements, allowing tourists to set foot on the island without presenting hotel booking vouchers.
Starting Nov. 15, visitors will no longer have to submit ‘hotel vouchers’ via the AKQUIRE System to secure a Quick Response code before entering the island or any point in the province of Aklan./PN
