Boracay Island in the Philippines will reopen to tourists after a six-month rehabilitation closure to renew the landform & resolve a sewerage problem – but don’t go booking flights just yet.
The Philippine Government confirmed tourists would be permitted to return to the island from 26 October, so long as they follow strict new restrictions designed to maintain environmental improvements.
New Boracay Island rules include a 19,000 visitor limit, as well as a reduction in hotel rooms from 12,000 to a maximum of 9,000.
Image: Alva Pratt/Unsplash
Tourists will need to present a hotel reservation slip to visit the popular destination, and they’ll be prohibited from taking part in water activities or eating along the beach. Philippines leaders have also banned souvenir shops and hawkers from the island.
Authorities will be on hand to ensure tourists follow the new rules and maintain improvements such as repairs to the island’s sewerage system, which Philippine Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu described as 100 percent complete.
Image: Sam Shin/Unsplash
Meanwhile over in Thailand, the Southeast Asian government has indefinitely closed Maya Bay as it struggles to recover from years of overtourism.
Thai leaders said they were unable to reverse environmental damage caused to the beach, despite a four-month revitalisation period.
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