Boracay to open doors to GCQ tourists on October 1 after months of closure

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism on Wednesday announced that the country’s top tourist destination, Boracay island, will further open its doors to more local tourists starting October 1, after almost seven months of closure.

Tourists from destinations under a general community quarantine and modified GCQ classifications including the National Capital Region will then be allowed to visit the island, but foreign tourists will remain prohibited.

This development came as a result of a special meeting convened by the principals of the Boracay Interagency Task Force (BIATF) led by its chair Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Co-Vice Chairs including Interior and Local Government Secretary Ed Año and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, with the Province of Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores on Tuesday, September 22.

Guidelines for Boracay tourists

For the upcoming reopening of the island, Puyat said several measures have been prescribed by the Task Force to target a safe and calibrated resumption of tourism business and operations. This includes undergoing of test before travel, requiring a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-CPR) result 48 to 72 hours prior to traveling to Boracay.

“Also, travelers will be advised to go on a strict quarantine immediately after a test and until the time of travel to the island,” Puyat said.

In July, the IATF lifted the age restriction to tourists which allows travelers age 21 and below and above 60 with no comorbidity to visit the island.

Puyat told PhilStar.com that there is no travel limit for tourists from GCQ areas but they are required to test negative for the coronavirus disease.

The DOT said that airlines are advised to only use one airport for entry, which is the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan in the municipality of Malay.

The tourism agency assured that minimum health and safety guidelines (HSG) already in place, and in accordance with Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and national government mandates, will be subjected to continued enhancement.

On June 16, Boracay only opened to tourists from Western Visayas.

During which, the province of Aklan rolled out stringent protocols in receiving guests as well as strict guidelines in handling COVID-19 related emergencies.

The DOT said that a COVID-19 Laboratory is now operational at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan, which forms a part of the network of facilities and services needed in a safe environment for host communities, business stakeholders, and tourists.

“In fact, the DOT had earlier coordinated with the FILINVEST Corporate City Foundation, Inc, for its donation of an RT-PCR machine to the Province of Aklan. Similarly, we worked with the Tulong Kapatid, the social responsibility consortium of the MVP Group of Companies, for several projects to include the donation of medical equipment and extension of training that will level up the Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital in Boracay from an infirmary to a level 1 trauma hospital,” Puyat said.

The DOT has also issued Certificates of Authority to Operate to a total of 199 hotels and resorts representing 4,416 rooms since June.

Aside from the minimum health protocols, visitors of Boracay are expected to follow the “Health and Safety Guidelines Governing the Operation of Island and Beach Destinations under the New Normal” or memorandum Circular No. 2020-007 signed by Puyat early this month.

Under this guidelines, lifeguards will be accompanied by beach marshalls or officers tasked to ensure that protocols such as physical distancing are followed in island tourist destinations during prescribed swimming hours.

The tourism chief welcomes the reopening of Boracay to new market and said that it builds momentum for domestic tourism nationwide.

“We are pleased that the BIATF and the LGUs of the Province of Aklan and Municipality of Malay have agreed to put health and safety as the priority as we carefully and safely welcome more guests to the island,” Puyat said.

The “Philippine Travel Survey: Insights on Filipino Travel Behavior Post-COVID 19” released in June showed that at least 77% of the respondents are willing to travel within the country once restrictions are lifted. They expressed willingness to travel domestically even in the absence of a proven vaccine against COVID-19.

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