CHINESE ‘INVASION’ OF BORACAY ISLAND RESUMES

BEFORE the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese was the No. 1 tourist market of Boracay Island.

When the pandemic struck, all the Chinese tourists disappeared.

Now, with COVID-9 no longer a public health emergency of international concern as per World Health Organization’s (WHO) announcement, hordes of Chinese tourists are back.

Actually, even before WHO made such a declaration, nagsugod na balik ang mga Chinese tourists.

On April 18, a total of 180 Chinese tourists aboard a chartered OK Airlines flight from Changsha, China to Kalibo, Aklan for their Boracay vacation. It was the first chartered flight from China since the market reopened for international travel on Jan. 8.

The resumption of chartered flights from China into Kalibo is a very welcome development. This proves that Boracay remains a popular destination for Chinese tourists.

In fact, no less than the Department of Tourism led a welcome reception upon the Chinese tourists’ disembarkation at Kalibo to give the visitors a preview of the warm Filipino hospitality.

The Chinese tourists enjoyed the effusive welcome. They felt very special and would surely keep coming back.

Of course, in general we are optimistic about the continuous recovery of the country’s tourism industry. But we hope and pray nga indi pagpabay-an sang gobyerno lokal kag nasyonal ang kahimtangan sang Boracay.

The government and private stakeholders (hotels, resorts, spas, malls, stores, etc.) must aggressively pursue the promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism in Boracay – so that more tourists will come to enjoy its beauty.

If not, Boracay could end up a cesspool again, with lots of garbage, untreated wastewater, and many ugly encroachments on its lovely white-sand beach.

Say Fromy?