Boracay hits ‘record high’ number of tourists since pandemic

[ASEAN NOW News]

March recorded a “record high” number of tourists going to Boracay since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).

 

 

According to Philippines Lifestyle, the DOT said that most of those who went to the famous island did ‘revenge travel,’ or you made up for not being able to travel due to restrictions caused by the pandemic.

 

Boracay recorded 150,597 tourists in March 2022, close to the 172,207 number of tourists in March 2019 or before the pandemic.

 

The DOT expects the number to increase further in the upcoming Holy Week.

 

“So close to pre-pandemic levels na sila,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

 

According to the secretary, DOT is now focusing on the government’s booster program.

 

Although almost 100 percent of tourism workers have been fully vaccinated, only 3 out of 10 nationwide are still able to have COVID-19 booster shots.

 

In Metro Manila, 6 out of 10 tourism workers have a booster.

 

Boracay hits’ record high’ number of tourists since pandemic: DOT

 

The agency hopes that domestic tourists will first help the recovery of the industry that has been devastated by the pandemic, especially since there are not that many foreign tourists.

 

In Boracay, only more than 1,600 foreign tourists are recorded, even though the island has seen record numbers.

 

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has once again relaxed the requirements for Filipino immigrants from other countries.

 

If previously only a negative result of an antigen test performed in the laboratory 24 hours before the flight was accepted, it will now be accepted from other health facilities.

 

“Ang in-approve, as long as it’s administered by [a] healthcare professional in a health care facility, clinic, lab, pharmacy, or other similar establishments,” the secretary added.

 

The number of tourists arriving in the Philippines has reached more than 191,000 since the border was widened in February.

 

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