Philippines Boracay Island To Reopen To Tourists Today But With New Drastic Rules

2018-10-26 , 6:00 am

Unless you’re not aware, Boracay island of the Philippines was shut down to visitors for the past six months.

Yes, that destination famous for sun, beach and beautiful waters.

Except, it wasn’t beautiful anymore due to humans.

The island’s businesses and residents have been dumping their untreated sewage into the sea unceremoniously, like how my ex-girlfriend dumped me.

And with that, the island’s clear blue water is turning into a cesspool, as their president puts it.

No more, he said. And he shut down the island for a six-month clean-up, banning visitors from visiting the island.

Well, six months has passed and today, 26 Oct, Boracay is back in business, baby!

Unlike the “unrestrained mega tourism” that was happening before, there’ll be a few changes to the island paradise.

For one, there’ll be fewer hotels and restaurants on the island.

Also, the island just became a lot more premium. Only 19,200 tourists will be allowed on the island at any one time.

The three casinos on the island have been permanently shut down and buildings were torn down to create a 30m distance from the waterline.

Watersports, besides swimming, are also banned for the time being.

You’re not allowed to smoke or drink on the beach either. Which means the mega-parties thrown on the beaches of Boracay no longer exists as well.

Yeap, so if you’re there for the crazy parties, Boracay’s not your scene anymore.

According to Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Boracay is just the beginning.

They hope that the island will promote the idea of sustainable tourism and said that other tourist destinations “will be next”.

She added that she has sent “warnings” to other top Philippine tourist areas like El Nido and Panglao islands.

Oslob, the island where you can feed whale sharks, already have its tourist arrivals cut by 50%.