2018 Boracay closure and redevelopment
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Boracay, a resort island in the Philippines and a major tourist destination in the country, is set to be closed to tourists for six months starting April 26, 2018.
Background
In a business forum held in February 9, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte called the island of Boracay a "cesspool" and announced plans to close the island to tourists and conduct a rehabilitation in the island to resolve the worsening sewage conditions there. Duterte has directed Environment secretary Roy Cimatu to resolve the environmental issues in the island.[1] Boracay is part of the jurisdiction of the town of Malay of Aklan province. Three of Malay's barangays are in Boracay.[2]
According to the Western Visayas regional office of the Department of Tourism, Boracay had two million tourists in 2017 which accounts for 34 percent of Western Visayas' 5.8 million tourist arrivals. At least 19,031 are employed to work in the island.[3]
Waters along the beaches of Boracay has experienced algal bloom which environmentalists and some long-time residents claim to be an indicator of pollution and deteriorating water conditions. The Malay muncipal government, some business operators, and some residents insists that the algal bloom is a natural seasonal phenomenon that usually occurs annually in the summer even before the island became developed.[2]
Events leading to the closure
Following Rodrigo Duterte's comment on the situation in Boracay, the local government of Malay issued a statement in February 19, 2018 accepting the remarks by the president as "constructive criticism" and has acknowledged the environmental issues affecting the island. It pointed out that the municipal government has entered in a partnership with architectural firm, Palafox Associates to formulate a tourism municipal master plan which involves decongesting Boracay and implementing building regulations in the island. In addition it has criticized ABS-CBN and GMA Network for using photos of algal bloom in the island to "sensationalize" the algal phenomenon in the island which it insists as natural and says it only occurs in the summer.[2]
There were repeat calls for a partial closure of Boracay instead of a total closure. 1-Pacman partylist has proposed the closure of areas identified as medium to high risk based primarily on environmental and sanitary standards while low risk areas are to operate while the rest of the island is being rehabilitated.[4]
Closure
In April 4, 2018, the Philippine government has announced that Boracay will be closed for six months starting on April 26.[5] Checkpoints manned by police officers and soldiers will be set up at piers in Boracay to turn away visitors from the island. Passes will be given to residents of Boracay.[6]
Impact
The government projected that there will be about ₱18−20 billion lose of potential gross receipts as a result of the six months closure of Boracay.[7] Tourist stakeholders in the island projects a loss of ₱30 billion as they estimate that 700,000 bookings by foreign tourists were cancelled in anticipation of the closure.[8]
AirAsia Philippines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines has announced that they will suspend flights to and from Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo and Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan during the closure.[8]
References
- ^ "Duterte calls Philippine tourist island Boracay a 'cesspool'". The Star Online. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Burgos, Nestor Jr. (19 February 2018). "Town gov't accepts Boracay 'cesspool' tag as 'constructive criticism'". Inquirer Visayas. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ Burgos, Nestor Jr. (23 March 2018). "Tourists calling off Boracay trips amid closure plans". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ Diaz, Jess (1 August 2018). "Partial closure of Boracay Island pushed anew". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ Ronda, Rainier Allan; Ong, Ghio; Romero, Alexis (5 April 2018). "Boracay closed for 6 months effective April 26". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Boracay closure creates chaos on the island". The Manila Times. Agence France-Presse. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ Montemayor, J.; Iglesias, M. (6 April 2018). "P20B losses seen with Boracay closure". Malaya Business Insights. Reuters. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ a b Ramirez, Robertzon; Desiderio, Louella (6 April 2018). "700,000 foreign bookings in Boracay canceled". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
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