1ST Reaction Paper – Marketing Management

Lesly P. Lorica MBA 2023-2024

“Domestic travelers to Boracay exceed prepandemic levels”

Business Mirror
By: Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
November 24, 2023

Boracay is a known tourist spot not only in the Philippines but also all over the world. I believe
that Boracay is a beautiful island that has always been in the list for all travel enthusiasts. Beautiful
Boracay offers stunning beaches, some of the best hotels in the Philippines, exciting nightlife, excellent
watersports and a huge variety of food choices.

But last 2018, it was temporarily closed to allow environmental rehabilitation on the island. The
government’s intention is to clean up the island and improve the island’s sustainability for years to
come. The island has unfortunately suffered many environment abuses like terrible sewage sanitary
conditions and infrastructure challenges including occupying areas that violates building standards in the
Philippines and in the same year, it was ordered by then President Rodrigo R. Duterte, to pulled down
these violators. Exposure in social media, magazines and reviews from tourists claiming a picture-
perfect tropical island has led tourists to visit Boracay.

However, in the later part of 2020 its door was opened again for local and international tourists
but with stricter Covid-19 triage and requirements including multiple PCR tests, varying degrees of
quarantine, costlier flights on reduced schedules and complex changing web of regulations and
paperwork. In February 2022, the island lifted its negative RT-PCR requirement for fully vaccinated
tourists. pandemic spread all over the world and vacation was limited change the face of tourism.
As of November 7, 2023, domestic travelers to Boracay have gone extremely high and it’s a good sign
that the island is now starting to regain its previous status as one of the best tourist spot in the world. Out
of 1.8 million travelers to the island from January to November, 1.43 million are Filipino domestic
travelers. Though this can be considered increase in visitors, still it can be noted that fewer foreign
tourist visited the island compare to the pre pandemic level. Lately, in an attempt of the government to
addressed this issue, they decided to open activities like allowing beach beds and umbrellas for tourists
to enjoy, night swimming will now be allowed until 9:00pm while food and drinks will now be served
on party boats. Government assured tourist that this is just a beginning for a more memorable, warm and
convenient Boracay experience. And as for the efforts by the government to attract more tourists, it is
also their responsibility to maintain the cleanliness and balance the environment and economic growth
as it was started in 2018. By following new guidelines, it will be possible to take care of the
environment and continue with the tourism growth in Boracay.