Boracay Yet To Update Its Travel Restrictions Amid New COVID-19 Surge

NCR tourists are still welcome in Boracay despite the surge of COVID-19 cases in NCR.

By: Mira Maestrecampo | January 06, 2022

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Being healthy and being fully vaccinated is one of the main requirements needed if you want to have a vacation on the island of Boracay.

Image: Hennan Palm Beach Boracay Facebook page

As of Monday, January 3, the government of Aklan has yet to update its travel restrictions, safety regulations, and entry ban of tourists in Boracay following the sudden surge of active cases in Metro Manila. [3]

Tourist arrivals in Boracay reached their highest record last month in the time of the pandemic due to tourists that flocked and visited Boracay Island during the holiday season.

Boracay has logged more than 113,000 tourist arrivals as of December, recorded as the highest number of visits since the pandemic outbreak. This data was recorded by the Malay Tourism Office recording 113,596 tourists that went to Boracay Island for a holiday vacation last December. [1]

Most of the arrivals are from local tourists, and with this, high-peaked domestic arrivals boost the Boracay tourism and its economic status. There have been 83,226 domestic arrivals logged by the Malay Tourism Office, 44 percent of which comes from the National Capital Region and 18 percent from the Western Visayas area. [2]

The increasing threat of the Omicron variant and travel restrictions implemented in the country have deranged the entry of foreign tourists. But on a brighter note, domestic tourism is still anticipated to recover this year since most travelers prefer to stay and go to local spots and destinations.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores is hopeful that Boracay tourism and its hospitality sector will still get through and recover from the effects of the impact of the pandemic.

Boracay Yet to Update Travel Restrictions Amid COVID Surge, boracay

Areas in Panay Island take steps against the Omicron threat.

The Iloilo Fastcraft Terminal has strictly implemented the no vaccine, no entry policy among passengers and travelers entering the terminal in Lapuz district, Iloilo. According to a local news source, personnel in charge said that the immediate order of the no vaccine, no entry policy came from the Philippine Ports Authority as a response to the sudden rise of active COVID-19 cases in the country, along with the threat of the Omicron variant.

The current policy took effect last Tuesday, January 4.

On the same day, the Philippine Coast Guard also announced a recent advisory implementing 70% seating capacity in all sea vessels and sea transportation, particularly in inter-island passenger ships. Implementation of health protocols such as one-meter social distancing, hand sanitizers, and disinfectants made available for use, and ensuring that all passengers are correctly wearing their face masks are highly observed. Sea vehicles and passenger ships are also regularly sanitized.

Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas declared that the city government should impose strict travel restrictions and measures by testing inbound tourists and travelers from NCR, Cebu, and Boracay Island. The mayor added that officials have already started discussing imposing mandatory quarantine and strict observance of health protocols for travelers coming from outside the vicinity. [4]

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Boracay and Iloilo!

All details and information in this article are true and accurate as of the publication date. However, while we are making our utmost effort to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the condition surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be unpredictable, and the situation develops rapidly. Hence, some information and recommendations may have changed since this article was published. For the latest advice, visit DOH and your LGU's official websites.

Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/3Hz1Vom
[2] https://bit.ly/3qPh2DC
[3] https://bit.ly/3zvegHh
[4] https://bit.ly/3pXkVqy

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About Mira Maestrecampo

Mira - with a long surname - is a girl who dreams of becoming a news anchor someday, in God's perfect time. She loves to read books and eat different kinds of cheesy or saucy food. A coffee addict and a dog lover, she loves long hugs, hot coffee on an afternoon break with friends, or simply sleeping all day with her stuffed unicorns.

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Boracay Island, Malay

Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.