Tourism chief sees more Boracay tourists on ‘Undas’

WELCOME BACK – Resorts, hotels and restaurants on Boracay Island have set up health and safety guidelines as the world-renowned island started welcoming tourists on October 1. (JACK JARILLA)

MANILA, Philippines — Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Friday said the volume of tourists in Boracay Island is expected to increase during the “Undas” season after the world-renowned island reopened its shores to tourists nationwide.

“Kahapon ang dumating lamang ay thirty-five tourists, pero weekday pa naman. I actually expect na mas dadami ang turista sa Undas. Sa Undas, dadami. ‘Yun ang peak season,” Puyat  said in a Teleradyo interview.

(Yesterday, 35 tourists arrived in Boracay but that’s a weekday. I actually expect that more tourists will visit during Undas season. It will increase during Undas. That’s the peak season.)

“Okay lang naman na kakaunti lang ang dumating so we can test the protocols,” she said.

(It is okay to have few tourists so we can test the protocols.)

The tourist destination was reopened to tourists from all over the country on Oct. 1, Wednesday with imposed health restrictions to prevent a surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)  infections.

The government required incoming travelers to secure a negative swab test not earlier than 48 hours before they travel. Aklan residents are exempted from this protocol.

Boracay tourists must also have a confirmed booking with an establishment that is accredited by the Department of Tourism.

Apart from this, a health declaration form from the Aklan provincial government’s official website must be accomplished to receive a quick response (QR) Code.

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