BORACAY – Pandemic-weary tourists are steadily returning albeit in modest numbers – a sign that tourism could be starting to pick up again.
Over 2,100 visitors from the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble spent their nights in accommodation establishments here from June 3 to 5.
Tourists from NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) are allowed to travel to provinces under modified general community quarantine.
The Municipal Tourism Office of Malay, Aklan which has jurisdiction over Boracay recorded 385 tourist arrivals on June 3; 805 in June 4 and 959 in June 5.
The island gradually reopened to domestic tourists in October last year after some six months of suspension of tourism-related activities due to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Businesses, however, were unsure they could stay afloat.
International visitors from major inbound markets – China, Taiwan and South Korea – are still barred entry, and no timeline has been given for the resumption of flights at the Kalibo International Airport.
Domestic holidaymakers traveling to Boracay by air or sea must show proof of negative coronavirus test result taken not more than 72 hours before departure for the island.
The island recorded 1,777 tourist arrivals last month.
It registered 11,898 tourists in January; 16,487 in February; 17,400 in March; and 1,481 visitors in April./PN
