This Week in Boracay and Iloilo (July 17 to 23, 2022)

Reports from the municipal tourism office of Malay, Aklan, show a significant rise in tourist visits to Boracay Island by 69%.

Congressman Teodorico Haresco Jr. expressed that the figures for the high tourist influx show an encouraging sign of the recovery of the tourism and economy not only in Boracay but also reflects Boracay’s economic recovery in the Philippines.

As of June, 6,873 tourist visits have been logged, which showed a significant increase in tourist visits compared to May at 4,268 and 4,737 during April. [1]

Boosting economic recovery, especially in tourist hotspots like Boracay, paves the way for more local jobs in the country, Haresco added.

The challenge of implementing minimum health and safety protocols in regulating COVID cases in the country is still up without compromising the strategies and efforts to promote tourism in the country. Currently, the government aims to improve and continue the economy’s recovery.

Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, the City Tourism Office (CTO) declares a tourism resurgence after almost two years of low to no tourist arrivals due to the effects of the pandemic. Currently, Iloilo City tags its economic status as “revenge travel”, with tourism establishments and businesses thriving once again in Iloilo.

Resorts, hotels, restaurants, and other leisure establishments are now boosting up with more sales and tourist bookings.

The CTO also notes that travelers nowadays are more into ‘staycations’, as the province observes more hotel bookings from both local and foreign tourists.

Meetings and conventions have also spurred up, as well as seminars with a large number of participants visiting and staying in Iloilo City.

In line with the economic influx, the CTO is preparing activities and strategizing more events that would attract more travelers to Iloilo City.

Akin to the current influx of Boracay tourists, travel and entry restrictions in Boracay shall be more lenient, as also affirmed by Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores. With this, the Aklan governor issued an Executive Order lifting the QR code pre-entry Boracay requirements for both returning and residing Aklan residents bound to main Aklan only.

As for tourists bound to Boracay Island, the provincial government shall make a simpler system of the QR code. The governor wants to simplify the QR code system in the area to keep track of Boracay tourists’ entries.

Boracay requirements for travelers bound to Boracay must access the QR code through the AkQuire system on www.touristboracay.com, and then comply with the minimum health protocols. Moreover, travelers should also secure their vaccination cards, vax certificate, travel papers and documents with the complete details, hotel booking reservation documents, and their personal data to generate the electronic QR code.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated tourists will still need to secure a negative swab test result taken within 72 hours before arriving in Aklan.

As of the first week of July, residents of Aklan can still enter the province even without complying with the digital registration; however, this policy does not apply to foreign tourists bound to Boracay.

Upon arrival in Boracay, COVID tests and quarantine isolation is no longer needed for inbound travelers.

The province of Iloilo lines up several attractions and events, and one of these would be the upcoming Iloilo Bike Festival 2022, to be launched this July.

The Iloilo Bike Festival shall be launched on July 29 and will commence until July 31, to be held at Iloilo Business Park. The event shall be filled with bikers and bike enthusiasts from all over Iloilo and across the Visayan region.

NEARSOL Iloilo, a partner for promoting health and wellness, will also cooperate with Iloilo in the said event. They will also be in charge of sponsoring brand new bicycles for the upcoming bike festival.

The event aims to establish Iloilo as a Bike Capital of the Philippines. Iloilo City Government has observed the significance of biking as a sport and hobby.

In this event, other stakeholders, along with Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., shall organize the bike festival with the theme, #BikeKaNaman sa Iloilo City – A Safe, Scenic, and Sustainable Biking in Iloilo City”. [2]

The Iloilo City Government is persistent in reminding its residents to get vaccinated and avail of their booster shots. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas emphasized this during a press conference, urging children to avail of their primary vaccination shots in preparation for the upcoming face-to-face classes.

As COVID cases continue to spike up, the Iloilo City government highly encourages residents who have still not gotten their vaccination doses and booster shots to get vaccinated as soon as they can, as part of protecting themselves at this time of the pandemic.

The mayor also added that Iloilo City does not plan to implement strict travel policies and lockdowns. Treñas also says that the city government has enough vaccines to administer to the residents.

According to OCTA Research, particular conditions for the optional use of face masks are disseminated through a local news source.

Firstly, the Philippines should show lower cases of COVID-19. Next would be the high rate of booster shots administered nationwide, and the third would be the administration of vaccines in open areas.

Dr. Guido David of OCTA reports that according to the survey, many people still opt to wear face masks, even though the government shall scrap the mandate of its mandatory use.

Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Boracay and Iloilo!