BORACAY – Tourist arrivals here continue to improve.
With the easing of travel restrictions, the month of May tallied the highest number of inbound tourists so far since the pandemic began in 2020.
A total of 201,368 travellers visited the island in May, up from 186,751 in April.
The month of March recorded 150,599 visitors, according to the Malay Municipal Tourism Office.
There were 80,882 visitors in February and about 35,799 in January.
The number of inbound foreign markets reached 11,972 or 1.83 percent of 655,397 total arrivals from January to May.
Since mid-February, foreigners have been permitted entry without having to quarantine in Boracay.
The United States accounted for 2,482 visitors from January to May; the United Kingdom came in second with 1,056 visitors; Germany with 651; and Australia with 628 visitors.
Since January, 558 Canadians and 437 Singaporeans also visited the island.
On June 17, Kalibo International Airport will welcome back international flights from South Korea, 27 months after the government banned direct flights from neighboring countries.
Before the crisis, there were 30 daily international flights between Kalibo and South Korea.
The province of Aklan is eager to revive the struggling travel and tourism industry with possible direct flights from mainland China, Taipei and Singapore.
Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 have slowed in the province since earlier this year. Facemasks are still mandatory in public places and indoor establishments./PN
