By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The island destination of Boracay in Aklan’s Malay town has reached pre-pandemic tourist arrivals, according to the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas (DOT-6).

DOT-6 director Cristine Mansinares said, based on data as of November 6, tourist arrivals in Boracay have reached 1,473,158.

Tourists coming from the National Capital Region make up the bulk of the arrivals at 498,738, followed by locals from Western Visayas at 266,884, and Calabarzon at 256,915.

Meanwhile, foreign tourist arrivals are now at 84,224.

Mansinares said for the months of June, July and September the volume of arrivals on the island has reached its 2019 levels.

Although only Boracay has reached the pre-pandemic levels of tourist arrivals in the region, Mansinares pointed out it is still an excellent sign for Western Visayas that it is well underway on the road to recovery following the pandemic.

“Nagabalik na ang interest sang aton mga tourists to visit not just Boracay, but the rest of the region,” she said.

With the country’s recent easing of travel protocols for foreigners, Mansinares said the region will likely see more foreign tourists, such as Koreans.

Furthermore, Mansinares said that some of the hotels and restaurants in the region, which were forced to close down during the pandemic, are already preparing to reopen over the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, when asked about the recent comments made by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. during last month’s MassKara Festival in Bacolod City, the regional director said the President’s comments were a positive development.

Previously, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson commented that despite the highly successful celebration of this year’s MassKara Festival, the number of tourist arrivals in Negros Occidental has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

“Hindi [pa], because waay pa ‘ta foreign [tourists]. I think we are not yet at that stage, but it’s good that local tourist arrivals are picking up,” Lacson said./DGB, WDJ