Lifting of age restrictions seen to boost Boracay tourism

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The local government of Malay, Aklan is optimistic that the removal of age restrictions on travelers from National Capital Region (NCR) Plus area to Boracay Island and other tourist destinations under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) will boost the tourism sector.

Mayor Frolibar Bautista said they noted an increase in tourist arrivals from June 2 until June 16.

“We have around 11,000 tourist arrivals. Prior to that, the number of tourist arrivals was by the hundreds only,” he said.

Bautista said easing of travel restrictions on tourists from NCR Plus is seen as the main factor in the increase as majority of local tourists to Boracay are from the NCR.

Data from the Malay Municipal Tourism Office indicated that a total of 9,066 tourists arrived in Boracay through Caticlan from June 1 to 13. The number included 890 travelers 0 to 12 years old while 178 were 60 years old and above.

Also, 64 percent or 5,772 visitors to Boracay came from the NCR followed by visitors from Region 4A (CALABARZON), including Rizal (681), Cavite (639), and Laguna (462).

“Hopefully, makabawi ang Boracay kahit papano,” Bautista said.

Bautista said businesses in Boracay Island have been hurting by the series of closures.

“For now, we couldn’t say how long will it take for things to go back to normal again, as far as Boracay businesses are concerned,” he said.

The Department of Tourism announced on Wednesday that tourists of all ages from NCR Plus are free to travel to Boracay and other tourist destinations under MGCQ until June 30 subject to certain restrictions.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat made the clarification following reports that some tourism stakeholders may not be aware that restrictions had been relaxed, even for seniors and young travelers, since June 1.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) had allowed the movement of persons traveling in and out of NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) from June 1 to 15. This was extended up to June 30.

Meanwhile, Bautista said he could not say for now if they would seek further extension of a more relaxed rules.

“It would depend on the prevailing situation and assessment of our national government and other health experts,” he said.

For Puyat, the extended liberal movement of people will allow the DOT and local government units to revive the jobs of displaced tourism workers.

Resolution 121 of the IATF allows interzonal travel between areas under GCQ and MGCQ for leisure purposes.

However, the DOT clarified that tourists from Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal may only undertake point-to-point travel to GCQ and MGCQ areas. Such travels shall be allowed for all ages, subject to RT-PCR testing before travel for those below 18 and above 65 and other restrictions imposed by the DOT and the local government unit of the destination.

Accredited staycation hotels in all GCQ areas remain allowed to accommodate leisure guests at up to 100 percent of their capacity.

Other DOT-accredited establishments in GCQ areas may operate at 30 percent capacity only for guests coming from the same household and subject to the strict monitoring of the local government unit.