KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — Nearly two months before the year ends, Boracay Island in Malay town has already reached its full-year target of 1.8 million tourist arrivals.
Records from the Malay Municipal Tourism Office showed that as of November 7, 2023, the island has welcomed a total of 1,825,758 visitors.
From the said figure, 1,433,024 were local tourists; 357,066 were foreign tourists; and 35,668 were vacationing overseas Filipinos.
The local tourism office noted that April registered the most number of visitors received with 213,736, followed by July with 207,696 tourist arrivals, and the month of May with 207,512.
Malay Municipal Tourism Officer Felix Gregorio Delos Santos said that with the current trend of arrivals of tourists in Boracay, the Local
Tourists enjoy the white sand of Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan. Boracay Island was recently named as the third top Island in Asia during the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2023. (PIA Aklan)
Government of Malay is optimistic that the island may even welcome two million visitors this year.
In 2022, the famous Island received a total of 1,759,592 tourists, showing a four percent increase in tourist arrivals as of November 7, this year.
The Malay tourism office admitted that the 2023 data on tourist arrivals were below the pre-pandemic levels but inbound tourism markets are showing signs of increasing arrivals to Boracay Island, with 5,000 to 6,000 tourists per day.
Meanwhile, the local government here is also pleased with the resumption of cruise ship arrivals in Boracay Island as this could increase the arrivals of foreign visitors which could further boost the province’s tourism industry.
“The return of cruise ships increases the travel demand that helps boost the global tourism economy. It opens more rooms for employment and entrepreneurship that could lead to the increase of revenue collections to fund not just the delivery of basic services in the community but also the programs, projects, and activities of the LGUs that foster economic stability,” Delos Santos said.
He added that the gradual comeback of cruise ships in Boracay island also signifies more than just the resurgence in tourism, it also represents hope and recovery from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic period as people can now travel freely without restrictions. (AGP/SQP/PIA Aklan)
