The Department of Tourism (DOT) is confident the world’s best beach destination will achieve its target of 1.7 million tourists this year.
Kristoffer Leo Velete, DOT-Boracay officer-in-charge, said, “they are optimistic the tourists target will be achieved by Boracay Island by end of the year with the influx of visitors during the holidays.”
As of the month of November, a total of 1,585,821 tourists stayed in Boracay, up by 15 percent compared to last year.
There were 801,956 foreigners and 745,772 domestic tourists also from January to November this year.
Velete said Boracay Island is set to increase its arrivals during Christmas holidays and before the New Eve celebration.
Majority of the hotels and resorts in the island are also fully booked and the Caticlan airport accommodates bigger aircrafts to cater inbound markets, he added.
Data from Municipal Malay Tourism Office, the island resort registered 135,847 arrivals last December. Last month, Boracay Island already surpassed last year’s tourist arrivals of 1,560,106.
Korea, China and Taiwan were the three biggest markets of Boracay, accounting for 70 percent of the foreign visitors.
On the other hand, Boracay police, Task Group-Boracay and force multipliers are on alert for the holiday season to secure the visitors and residents. Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy also tightened its maritime security measures around Boracay Island.
Passengers of motorized pump boats are required to wear lifejackets prior to departure to Cagban and Caticlan ports.
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
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