By MOOK Scenic Spots Chen Wenlin, compiled and reported
Those planning to visit Boracay, the honeymoon paradise in the Philippines, may need to seize the opportunity. To restore Boracay’s natural environment, Philippine government officials recently proposed an “island closure” plan, which could be implemented as early as April, with the closure lasting up to a year.
Updated (2018.04.05)
On the evening of April 4, the Philippine Presidential Palace announced that the island will indeed be closed starting April 26 for a period of six months. President Duterte aims to address Boracay’s severe pollution and sewage discharge issues by implementing a “shutdown policy,” temporarily suspending tourist access to accelerate environmental restoration and related infrastructure projects. Philippine Airlines and other carriers are accepting flight refunds, while some travel agencies have strategies such as combining groups for earlier departures for those who have booked package tours. Refunds for cancellations will depend on individual agency policies.
To tackle the pollution issues exacerbated by the surge in Boracay’s visitors in recent years, the Philippine government plans to “close the island” for maintenance (Image source / It’s More Fun in the Philippines)
As Boracay’s fame has grown, so has the number of tourists, with visitor numbers exceeding 2 million in 2017, making tourism the island’s primary source of income. In addition to tourists, many outsiders have also moved to the island seeking livelihoods, leading to an environment over the years that can no longer cope. Not only is garbage pollution severe, but the increased population has also caused traffic congestion on the narrow roads, and even precious natural resources such as coral reefs have gradually been damaged.
Boracay has long been one of Asia’s popular resort islands, boasting rich natural surroundings. But years of growing tourist numbers have gradually made the environment unsustainable. (Image source / Wikipedia)
Boracay is home to numerous tourism businesses, and an island closure would inevitably have a huge impact. Many tourists with pre-booked flights, accommodations, and travel itineraries will also face changes. Those planning to visit Boracay should act quickly, or wait half a year. Those who have already booked flights or itineraries should pay attention to the follow-up arrangements due to the closure.
Taiwanese people's top 10 overseas travel cities: Tokyo remains No. 1
》https://www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=17568