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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Boracay wants to become Asia's top 'bleisure' destination

Boracay wants to become Asia's top 'bleisure' destination

Published Nov 17, 2021 08:00 pm

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is pushing for world-famous Boracay Island to become Asia’s premier destination for “bleisure” or business and leisure once the COVID-19 pandemic restriction eases.

This was after the DOT’s Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and industry players for meetings, incentives, conferences, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) converged in Boracay over the weekend.

This year’s MICE Buyers Invitational Program or the MICECONNECT 2021 looked into how the country’s most famous beach destination in Malay town, Aklan province can be a major MICE player in Asia.

As the country’s MICE industry is trying to bolster its readiness to get back on its feet, MICE industry leaders are becoming confident in Boracay’s capability to host incentive travel and small to medium size conferences in the future.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the six-month tourism closure in 2018, Boracay hosted several international events that can be classified as MICE. Among them were ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2015 and the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) in 2017.

Meanwhile, the TBP is also looking forward for the MICE recovery in other key destinations in the Philippines.

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