BORACAY’S business sector is suffering from the rough bumps brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to the local economy.
Tourist arrivals dropped by 40 percent, Malay town mayor Froliba Bautista confirmed in an interview. The 172, 695 tourists in January dropped to 103,834 in the following month, Bautista said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Boracay chapter president Elena Brugger said tourism establishments are “badly hit” by the pandemic.
“The effect economically is not good because no people, no business,” she added.
Accommodation establishments and resorts that are members of the PCCI-Boracay report only 20 to 30 percent occupancy rate, she revealed.
Tourism establishments have dropped their rates up to 50 percent and have offered promos and freebies to entice customers.
The PCCI is supporting the #besttimenow online marketing campaign to promote the tourist destination.
“The #besttimenow is an initiative of one of our business establishments that we should not promote individually but we will have a unified and united marketing strategy to promote the island,” she said.
She assured the local government of Malay is “way ahead” in its preventive measures against the spread of the disease.
Brugger also noted the setback suffered by operators of Paraw sunset sailing as clients in water activities also declined.
Daniel Robido of Paraw Masboi Sailboat Cooperative, said their earning has been reduced to around P200 from P1, 000 daily when the virus threat broke out.
Few sentiments were also heard from shop owners and residents with livelihoods dependent to Boracay.
While the business sector continues to bear the effects of the disease, the local government unit said it is doing its best to protect the island from the virus.
The provincial government of Aklan is also asking all Boracay Island visitors entering the Caticlan Jetty Port and Passenger Terminal for a temperature check and to fill up health declaration cards to guard against potential carriers of the virus. (with a report from PNA/PN)
