ILOILO CITY— Mayor Frolibar Bautista encouraged Malaysian Muslims to visit world-famous Boracay Island during a recent visit to Malaysia.
THE Muslim-friendly beach at world-famous Boracay Island. (Department of Tourism-Philippines)
Bautista told a delegation during a dialogue hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur that the resort-island located in Malay town, Aklan province is now more favorable to Muslim tourists.
He said that Boracay has secluded beach known as “Marhaba” launched last September by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for Muslim travelers and families managed under Islamic laws.
Bautista made the pitch as Boracay’s foreign tourist arrivals dropped in 2024. The local economy has heavily relied on the resort-island which only has three barangays.
Municipal officials reiterated that the local government remains steadfast in its pursuit of strategic partnerships that will drive growth and sustainability in the tourism sector.
“As Boracay continues to evolve, this engagement serves as a promising step toward strengthening international ties and further elevating the island’s global tourism presence,” Bautista said.
Bautista and Malay Tourism Officer Felix delos Santos Jr. received awards on behalf of Boracay Island during the 6th Global Travel Exchange and Business-to-Business Roadshow in Kuala Lumpur.