MANILA, Philippines — Tourists can get up to 75% discount on room rates in the newly reopened Boracay Island, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said Monday.
In a televised press briefing with Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Miraflores said tour operators and establishments in Boracay agreed to offer the discount to “offset” the cost of the COVID-19 testing, which is among the requirements for visitors of the world-famous island resort.
Tourists who want to visit Boracay must have a negative RT-PCR test result not earlier than 48 hours before they travel. This rule, however, exempts Aklan residents.
“Nakipagpulong tayo sa sektor ng turismo dito sa Boracay at napagkasunduan na para ma-offset ‘yung RTPCR tests na medyo may kamahaalan ay nag-agree ‘yung mga tour operators at tourist establishments na magbibigay sila ng as much as 75% discount on room rates,” the governor said.
Boracay is off to a pale reopening on Thursday, having only welcomed 35 tourists after months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Miraflores expressed confidence that more tourists will soon visit Boracay, the Philippines’ top tourist destination, as the island remains COVID-19-free.
“Sa tingin namin in the next few weeks or in the next few months, ang mga turista sa Boracay ay babalik dahil sa nakikita nila ngayon, ang ganda ganda ng Boracay. Bumalik sa dating estado ang Boracay from the 1980s to 1990s ang ganda ng beach,” the governor said.
“Safe na safe ang Boracay dahil hanggang ngayon, COVID-free pa ang island ng Boracay,” he added. [ac]