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EARLIER this year, the Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of the paradise island of Boracay, one of the Southeast Asian country’s major tourist destinations.
Boracay island saw the last of its travelers enjoying their holiday on Apr 26, 2018, before the tourist ban is enforced.
Located off the northern tip of the central island of Panay, Boracay, with its pristine white sand beaches and crystal blue waters, sees more than a million tourists and an estimated US$772.5 million in revenue every year.
The treasured island attracted nearly two million visitors last year, close to half of which are foreigners. It is especially popular with Chinese and South Korean tourists.
The closure led to airline companies such as AirAsia suspending all flights to the destination, offering instead other alternatives and service recovery options. Hotels and resorts on the island scrambled to attend to guests with affected bookings.
The hiatus also affected restaurants, cafes, vendors, and other businesses on the island.
However, the rehabilitation period will soon come to an end and Boracay will once again be ready to receive tourists.
Source: Shutterstock.
But what does it entail? The Philippines had boldly promised a “better Boracay”. What does this mean for tourists and businesses?
The Philippines will limit the number of visitors setting foot on the island resort each day when it reopens to tourists, Department of Environment and Natural Resources undersecretary Sherwin Rigor said.
Only 19,000 tourists and 15,000 workers will be allowed on the island on any given day. Authorities will also be banning beachfront parties, as well as activities such as eating, smoking, and drinking.
Additionally, only half of the island’s 12,000 existing hotel rooms will be allowed to open each day to ensure the number of guests on the island is below its “carrying capacity” of 55,000.
The closure of Boracay weighed on gross domestic product in the second quarter as growth slowed to a near three-year low of six percent in April-June, Reuters reported.
The island will officially open to tourists on Oct 26, 2018.
The post Paradise resort island of Boracay to reopen but there’s a catch appeared first on Travel Wire Asia.
Source: travelwireasia.com