This Week in Boracay (December 15 to 21, 2018)

A good weather for a swim, island hopping, and other water sports activities can be expected this week. Light rains in some areas may be expected in the morning, but the sun is expected to shine for the rest of the day. Wearing sunblock is a must since maximum temperature is at 28 °C [1]. Meanwhile, water sports activities can be done starting from 9:00 AM and you can end your day with a paraw (outrigger boat) sailing activity around 5:00 PM.

If not totally eliminated, then erring drivers preying on tourists are now way fewer in Boracay. This is after more than 200 drivers have been arrested by the Land Transportation Office Region 6 for various traffic violations. The crackdown aims to discipline all transport vehicle drivers on the island [2]. The Local Government Unit of Malay has also opened a hotline where locals and tourists could send their complaints on erring drivers.

Chinese tourists may again become among the top visitors of Boracay this year. This is because of the new flights coming from China as confirmed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas. New flights will come from the cities of Nanning and Changsha of China to Kalibo International Airport [3]. Last year, the island catered to more than 300,000 Chinese tourists. Aside from Chinese tourists, South Korean tourists are also among the top visitors of Boracay.

A new medical facility is expected to rise in Boracay. The Boracay Medical Hospital and Wellness Center which will rise in Barangay Balabag is aimed to become the pioneer of medical tourism in the Philippines [4]. The main facility of the new hospital is expected to have a 5-story building with a 100-bed capacity. The second phase of the project is the wellness center.

After months of hiatus, cruise ship visits are again allowed in Boracay. International cruise line MS World Dream is expected to dock in Boracay this December 19 [5]. The cruise ship is expected to carry 3,400 passengers and a crew of 2,000. The island is poised to become a cruise destination in the country and is part of the Turquoise Triangle along with Palawan and Manila.

Tourists will now have more accommodation options in Boracay as more establishments were accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT). As of December 4, 268 hotels and resorts offering 9,637 rooms are now allowed to operate [6]. Tourists are only allowed to visit Boracay when they have booked a stay in any of these compliant establishments. Also, only 6,405 tourists are allowed to enter the island per day.