Temporary closure decreases Boracay tourist arrival by half

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas said tourist arrivals in the world-famous Boracay Island have declined by half last year.

Atty. Helen Catalbas, DOT-6 director, explained that the shutting down and environmental rehabilitation of the island caused tourist arrivals declining from 2 million in 2017 to 930,363 last year.

“It is because of the six-month closure,” Catalbas said.

She stated in 2018, the closure changed the arrival target of 2.2 million tourist arrivals.
After it’s reopening in October 2018, roughly 19, 000 tourists were permitted to visit the resort island, on the basis of carrying capacity of the island.

As Catalbas mentioned, the target tourist arrivals in Boracay “will be subordinate to the carrying capacity limit”.

Also, tourism revenue dropped from P56.4 billion in 2017 to P28 billion in 2018, said Reda Astronomia, DOT chief regional statistician.

Catalbas explained that tourists who had to visit Boracay sidetracked to other spots, therefore benefiting Malay, Aklan and other the neighboring towns.

“Many of those who were not able to go to Boracay went to Buruanga, went to New Washington, and went to Anini-y, Antique, even, and went to Guimaras,” she said.

“So as a whole, ang Boracay lang ang affected. Pero ang Aklan kag ang whole region, naka-benefit,” she added.

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