LoveBoracay begins April 26

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The biggest beach party in Boracay Island in Aklan returns to life on April 26 to May 1, 2022 amid concerns on overcrowding in the renowned tourist destination.

Malay Tourism Office Chief Felix Delos Santos confirmed the return of the summer event, which attracted droves of local and international tourists before the COVID-19 pandemic, following a meeting of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF).

The BIATF oversees the rehabilitation of Boracay which was closed to tourists for six months in 2018 to address environmental problems.

Tourism in the island was halted once more in 2020 when COVID-19 exploded into a pandemic.

In an interview with Aklan-based Radyo Todo, Delos Santos said the holding of LoveBoracay was partly due to the increase in tourist arrivals in the island.

The Philippines has also began accepting foreign tourists from any country sans quarantine.

This year’s summer party, however, will focus on balancing tourism and preserving the country’s premiere tourist destination and top earner.

Delos Santos said LoveBoracay “would be centralized on the sustainability concept to balance the growth of tourism and the preservation of the beauty of the Island” by conducting environmental activities.

“It’s more on a series of activities, because at first, it’s a beach party. This year, it is more on the sustainability concept… which would balance within the tourism, the environment. So it is more on environmental activities to strengthen environmental awareness. We really encourage them to be a responsible tourist and join our advocacy for the sustainable tourism it aton nga isla it Boracay, (of our Boracay Island),” he added.