Boracay island reopens for tourists after 6 months

October 29 (TravelAndy): The popular Boracay island in the Philippines reopened late last week after remaining closed for six months for rehabilitation.

However, only 19,000 tourists and 15,000 workers are allowed on the island on any given day. Also, only half of the island’s 12,000 hotel rooms will be allowed to open to ensure that only the desired number of visitors are on there at any given point, reports said.

“Let us treat the island as our home. Keep it clean and pristine. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke in the beach, don’t litter,” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo- Puyat said in a message to tourists coming to Boracay.

Boracay, located in central Philippines, is known for its stunning beaches, water sports and nightlife. Around two millions tourists had visited the island last year.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of the island in April calling it a “cesspool”, because of sewage dumped into the sea and buildings constructed too close to the shore.