KALIBO, Aklan – Aklan’s tourism industry is now on track for full recovery, according to Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores.
Miraflores revealed this during his State of the Province Address recently at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Session Hall, attended by Aklan mayors, SP members, heads and representatives of national government agencies, non-government organizations, and the local media.
Miraflores revealed that tourist arrivals in Boracay Island continue to surge and are expected to reach or even exceed pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023.
“From January to July 2023, Boracay Island already welcomed 1,332,418 visitors; we only need a monthly average of 183,909 tourists for the next five months to reach the all-time high of 2,251,966 in 2019,” he said.
“Last year, we successfully participated in the 33rd Philippine Travel Mart, which generated renewed interest in Aklan’s tourist attractions, culture, and food,” said Miraflores.
Through the province’s tourism office, it has once again participated in this year’s edition on Sept. 1–3 at the SM Mall of Asia.
The province also expects that its Economic Enterprise Development Department – Ports Operations will be able to achieve its target collection for 2023, fueled by relaxed restrictions on travel and an increase in terminal fees.
With this, the governor hopes to continue pursuing its health services improvement programs, which slowed down during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
He reported that facilities in the terminal area in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan are also continuously being improved.
“We installed a new ramp to accommodate more sea vessels, a new canopy for better convenience for our passengers, and concreted the road at the reclamation area,” the governor revealed.
The provincial government is also proposing the Aklan Provincial MARINA Project, which seeks to transform the present reclamation area into a hub for cruise ship tourism with vertical and horizontal infrastructure and modern facilities.
Moreover, the facilities and equipment of the Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital in Boracay Island have been upgraded, ensuring that tourists can receive proper medical attention, and if needed, a sea ambulance is available. (PIA)/PN
