BORACAY – Business remains not “as usual” here.
The beaches are less crowded due to concerns over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Since March, the tourism and hospitality sectors in the island are on doldrums.
Although authorities have started easing restrictions, tourists are still hesitant to come back.
Acting mayor Frolibar Bautistas of Malay, Aklan which has jurisdiction over Boracay has pleaded to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to scrap the COVID-19 test requirement for incoming visitors.
The test can be pricey and discourage tourists, he pointed out.
Scrapping it could help kick-start the struggling tourism and hospitality businesses in the island.
“Pinabalik na ng mga business establishments ang kanilang mga workers thinking na may darating na mga turista sa pagbukas ng Boracay. Hindi nila na-sustain ang overhead expenses dahil mababa ang tourist arrivals natin. Pag nag-close sila uli, kawawa ang ating mga workers,” said Bautista.
Several business groups, transport cooperatives and barangay councils have issued resolutions calling for the scrapping of the COVID-19 test requirement for tourists.
“Itong mga resolutions ay ipaparating ni Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores sa Boracay task force upang pag-usapan ng IATF-EID,” said Bautista./PN
