Boracay to open private beach for Muslim women

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to open a private beach dedicated to Muslim women in Boracay Newcoast on September 10.

The initiative aims to cater to Muslim travelers who prefer more privacy while swimming.

DOT Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar announced the development during the Philippine-Malaysia Art Expo opening in Makati City, describing it as a response to requests from foreign diplomats.

“Some Muslims can swim in public, but others prefer a private space. I’m sure that, given the choice, many Muslims who currently swim in public areas would prefer this option because, right now, they don’t have a choice,” Valderrosa-Abubakar explained.

The concept was suggested by ambassadors from Malaysia and Brunei during a meeting in Boracay, where they highlighted the need for more Muslim-friendly spaces.

In response, the Aklan local government, in collaboration with Megaworld Corporation, designated a portion of northeastern Boracay Newcoast as a private cove for Muslim women. This area is also home to the Savoy Hotel, which recently received Halal kitchen certification.

“When we proposed the idea to the mayor of Aklan, he said he would find an area, and the timing was right because Megaworld had a coastal area that could be transformed into a private cove for Muslim women,” Valderrosa-Abubakar added.

She emphasized that this move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call during his State of the Nation Address to promote Halal and Islamic traditions in Philippine tourism.

This initiative is part of the DOT’s efforts to make the Philippines a more Muslim-friendly destination, as outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan for 2023-2028.

The agency plans to enhance the training of frontline tourism workers using Halal modules developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). According to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, this will benefit accommodation and tourism enterprises, positioning the Philippines as a competitive Halal and Muslim-friendly destination.

For two consecutive years, the Philippines has been recognized as an Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination by the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index.