Lowest tourist arrivals recorded in Boracay

Only up to 80 tourists visited the island of Boracay on Monday.

This is after the issuance of Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution no. 104, and adopted by the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force, Region 6, Western Visayas, which prohibits returning residents from returning home and tourists wishing to enter Western Visayas, who come from areas where there is an escalation of the case of Covid-19 such as the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

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The implementation of IATF Resolution No. 104 began this Monday and will end on April 4.

Meanwhile, the adopted resolution issued by RIATF Western Visayas began this Tuesday until April 4.

DOT Region 6 has also notified local governments and establishments and hotels in Western Visayas to prepare rebooking plans for booked tourists.

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Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay, Aklan, admitted that the said Resolution No. 104 is a big loss to the Malay economy, especially in tourist arrivals on the island of Boracay but the local government must comply to prevent the increase of COVID-19 cases.

Also read: NEDA chief unconvinced that reopening of economy caused COVID-19 surge, SBMA enforced curfew; RT-PCR test required for overnight visitors

Lowest tourist arrivals recorded in Boracay

Last week, the Boracay local  has decided to use saliva RT-PCR as a requirement for tourists entering the island.

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The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force approved the saliva , which should be conducted by the Philippine Red Cross and other accredited test laboratories.

According to the Department of Tourism, they are also ready to fund RT-PCR devices or gene expert machines if the local government of Malay, Aklan so desires.

“The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the approval of the saliva RT-PCR test as an alternative to the nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR as one of the entry requirements to the island,” said DOT in a statement.

“The Department likewise has recommended to the IATF that persons below 15 and above 65 years old traveling from Manila to Boracay should not be restricted from going to the airport and flying since Boracay is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), as long as the passenger has a valid plane ticket,” they said.