ILOILO CITY – World-famous Boracay Island has surpassed its target of 1.8 million tourist arrivals even before the year has come to a close.

THE sun sets at world-famous Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)
The Malay-Boracay Tourism Office said 1.82 million tourists visited the resort-island in Malay, Aklan from January 1 to November 7.
It said that tourist arrivals as of November 7 exceeded the target by more than 25,000.
Majority was composed of domestic tourists with 1.43 million, followed by 357,066 foreign tourists and 35,668 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista had earlier said that the local government expected tourist arrivals to exceed its target.
Bautista attributed the steady increase in tourist arrivals due its selection by private and government organizations as site for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibits (MICE).
Foreign tourists, especially from South Korea and China, have increased as direct international flights have resumed at the airport in the provincial capital of Kalibo.
A year ago, 1.75 million tourists visited Boracay.