ILOILO CITY – Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco called for infrastructure improvements to boost foreign tourist arrivals in world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province.
“We recognize that there is a need to improve the facilities as far as air and sea travel is concerned. Chief of which is the improvement of the port before you go to Boracay,” said Frasco during her official visit to Boracay this week.
SECRETARY Christina Garcia-Frasco of the Department of Tourism (DOT) speaks to key stakeholders in Boracay Island. (DOT Philippines)
“Please take note that these are not only our observations, but the observations of our foreign stakeholders. They have noticed it, and so we must address it at the soonest possible time,” added Frasco.
The Tourism chief shared feedbacks, including long waiting times, crowded ticket counters, lack of signages, the availability of online payment options, and chaotic boarding for the short boat rides between the mainland and Boracay.
Frasco said these were mentioned by travel and tourism stakeholders, both domestic and international, especially during her dialogues in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 and in Seoul, South Korea during the sidelines of the Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF).
“We are eager to work with the provincial government of Aklan as well as the municipal government of Malay to introduce these necessary interventions,” said Frasco.
In 2023, 2.12 million domestic and foreign tourists visited the country’s most famous beach destination.