By Tara Yap ILOILO CITY – Foreign and domestic tourists were finally allowed to leave the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province after being stranded due to travel restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As the sun sets, the beachside of world-famous Boracay Island is void of tourists and locals due to quarantine measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. (Pia Miraflores via Tara Yap / MANILA BULLETIN) Department of Tourism (DOT) Western Visayas Regional Director Helen Catalbas confirmed that a total of 528 tourists have been ferried to the mainland town of Malay where two recovery flights waited for them last March 21 and 22. They were flown to Manila in two batches. Last week, tourists were scrambling to leave after learning that all air, land travel and sea travel have been suspended as both the national government and local governments stepped up measures against the spread of COVID-19. But the Duterte administration later lifted the ban on international flights going out of Manila, while also allowing recovery flights domestically for stranded people. While majority of the tourists have left, Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista told The Manila Bulletin that there were still other foreign tourists who chose to stay behind. Bautista explained they chose to stay because they still didn't have the proper connecting flights from Manila to their respective countries. “They are welcome here. They are safe here,” added Bautista. Meanwhile, DOT Western Visayas office also facilitated a recovery flight for tourists stranded in Negros Island. A total of 147 tourists have been flown out of Bacolod–Silay Airport.