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Metro Manila tourists flocked to Boracay for the holidays

Philippines | National

Metro Manila tourists flocked to Boracay for the holidays

By Hanah Tabios

Tourists from the National Capital Region (NCR) comprise the bulk of arrivals on Boracay Island over the holiday season, the latest local government data revealed.

The Malay, Aklan Municipal Tourism Office recorded a total of 19,164 tourist arrivals on the world-famous island from Dec. 1 to Jan. 10, with around 75.8 percent or 14,520 arrivals coming from the National Capital Region (NCR).

This happened despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the data, a spike of visitor arrivals was recorded beginning Dec. 23 until Jan. 2.

Filipino celebrities like Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Sarah Lahbati, Richard Gutierrez, model Kelsey Merritt, among others, were also seen celebrating the holidays in Boracay.

Malay Acting Mayor Floribar Bautista, however, said a total of 19 tourists, mostly from NCR, have been arrested for presenting fake reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results which is now a main requirement for travel.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Western Visayas showed that there are a total 646 accommodation establishments in Boracay that have been issued a Certificate of Authority to Operate (CAO) and provisional CAO as of Jan. 7.

This translates to a total of 12,444 rooms.

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