DOT rejoices as Boracay is again Asia’s best island

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said efforts to rehabilitate Boracay Island in Aklan was worth it after it was recently hailed as Asia’s best island for 2019.

During her visit to Iloilo City on Thursday, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said she was delighted with Boracay Island’s latest recognition.

“We have 7,641 islands, so syempre when they say one of our islands is the best, syempre masaya ka,” Puyat said.

Boracay Island was recognized as the best island in Asia by travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler in its 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Conde Nast Traveler report said Boracay’s main draw is its white beach with powdery white sand and shallow azure water which is ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

“This itty-bitty island (just under four square miles) in the Western Philippines is as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and made-for-Instagram sunsets. Fold in a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the top tourist spots in the region,” the report added.

Puyat said all the rehabilitation efforts of the government finally paid off with good and positive results.

“Oo, worth it naman because we are getting high value clients, marami nagsasabi, makikita mo kasi based on social media, hashtag Boracay, puro good news. Maraming paghihirap pero worth it and we are hoping that this will continue, mismong stakeholders will continue,” she added.

In April 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the six-month closure on the island to address numerous environmental concerns.

The island was reopened in October 2018 with stricter implementation of environmental laws and a designated carrying capacity for tourists.