The world-famous Boracay Island--the crown jewel of Phlippine tourism--has been awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp for its adoption of globally recognized health and safety guidelines during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat led the awarding of the safe travels stamp to Boracay, which is managed by the local government unit (LGU) of Malay in Aklan.
Boracay, which is famous for its white beach, became the second destination in the Philippines to get the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp next to Baguio City. The country's "summer capital" received its stamp last April.
The DOT also awarded the stamp to 11 DOT-accredited accommodation establishments in Boracay namely Le Soleil de Boracay, Discovery Shores Boracay, Shangri-la's Boracay Resort, Hue Boracay, Wald's Place, Amable Suites, Lime Hotel, The Lind Boracay, Movenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, Villa Caemilla Beach Boutique Hotel, and Belmont Hotel Boracay.
The WTTC Safe Travels Stamp is the world's first safety and hygiene stamp for travelers. It recognizes governments and businesses that have adopted global health standardized protocols especially in the time of the pandemic.
"Keeping our tourism workers and tourists safe will be a great leap forward in our ongoing quest to get the tourism industry back on its feet," Puyat said.
"Bringing tourists back to Boracay, the country’s tourism crown jewel, in a safe and sustainable manner is a critical part of the plan,” she added.
The Malay LGU started on Wednesday, July 7, the inoculation of at least 3,000 tourism workers in Boracay as part of its efforts to help the local tourism recover.