The number of tourists going to Boracay has already declined with less than one week left before the closure.

Data from Aklan Jetty Port Administration showed that tourist arrivals this April has declined by 33 percent already.

Boracay received a total of 81,972 tourists from April 1 to 18, way lower compared to the 122,852 on the same period of last year.

Aklan Jetty Port Administrator Niven Maquirang yesterday said that while tourists continue to visit Boracay, it is expected to go down further until the closure date on April 26.

He said most of this decline is due to the cancelled flights, majority from China.

Despite the decrease, foreign tourists continue to dominate tourism arrivals in Boracay.

This April, 51,338 foreign tourists visited the island while local tourists only numbered 38,340 and 2,238 were overseas workers.

Meanwhile, Maquirang said they are ready to implement whatever guidelines would be approved once the closure starts.

He said issuance of terminal pass for residents, workers, workers for rehabilitation and the media is currently ongoing until April 22.

The terminal pass will allow them to enter the Caticlan Jetty Port, which will be the main entry to Boracay.

“Without the terminal pass, they will not be given boat tickets,” he said.

A one-stop-shop with different agencies involved in the rehabilitation of Boracay will be put up at Caticlan Jetty Port to assist those who will be affected by the closure.

Among the agencies that will join the activity are Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Bureau of Immigration. (PNA)