‘Subdued’ island resort greets tourists on first night of opening

POLICE and rescue volunteers join a capability demonstration on the white beach area of Boracay Island on Oct 26, 2018. Despite the hundreds of cops on the island resort, an Italian tourist and his Filipina girlfriend claimed that they were robbed over the weekend.

BORACAY, Aklan – It was far from the island they used to know.

Tourists who set foot in the first day of Boracay Island re-opening were taken aback by the stillness of the island.

Sea sports activities – from banana boat, parasailing, helmet diving, and the likes – were not allowed following the island’s re-opening on Oct 26, 2018.

The parties that kept the island’s nightlife active were also conspicuously missing.

Fire performances were also absent as these were also banned.

Tourists also did not get a chance to take their photos before sand castles since it is also regulated.

“Nakakapanibago lang. I strolled the island, there are so many areas by the beach na madilim. It’s 8:00 p.m. pero tahimik na except for some restaurants where they have their own entertainers,” said Lovelyn, a 28-year old tourist from Manila.

It was something new “but I hope, they wouldn’t overdo things na marami nang bawal,” she added.

Fifty-year old Marissa, a government official from Iloilo City, said Boracay’s silence is a welcome development for those who look for respite from their busy lives.

“The government is assessing things. There would be some modifications along the way,” she added.

Twenty-four-year old Angelo of Mindoro said he knew that some activities were banned and regulated, “but this silence is really deafening. I should have waited to visit the island at a later time. If swimming is all I’m looking for, I should have stayed in Mindoro.”

Heinz, a German tourist, was also surprised with what he encountered.

“I’m amazed of the surrounding. It’s cleaner now. Although, I was also surprised of the absence of some activities that we used to have,” he added.

Rodrigo, who works for a hotel in the island, said there appeared to be zero nightlife in Boracay.

During the six-month closure, the hotel he works for continued to operate.

“At least the sight now is better. May nakikita na kaming tao. Hindi na kasing boring ng dati. Siguro ibabalik naman ang ibang activities,” he added.

The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) earlier set several guidelines for the re-opening of the island.

Dining, smoking, and drinking of alcoholic drinks are banned at the white beach area.

Hawkers and shops were also prohibited along the beach. Thus, hunting for souvenirs will have to done elsewhere.

The all familiar water sports and diving activities were also suspended, albeit temporarily.

The fire dance was also prohibited, as use of kerosene-fuelled implements was not allowed.

Instead, fire dancers should opt for LED lights.

Some hotels increased their room rates following the re-opening.

“It’s not to recoup for the six-month closure. We needed to increase our rates to cover for the renovation,” a hotel manager Leilani said

Also a big factor in the higher rates is the rising inflation rate in Aklan province in the past months.

In September, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the province’s inflation rate picked up by 7.2 percent in August from 1.9 percent a year ago.

The rapid increase comes as the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco index hits 23.8 percent, and Transport with 11.4 percent.

This is further pushed by higher annual mark-ups of other commodity groups such as Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (8.9 percent); Recreation and Culture (8.3 percent);

Restaurant and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (6.9 percent); Furnishings, HH Equipment, and House Maintenance (5.4 percent); Clothing and Footwear (5.0 percent); Health (3.4 percent); Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas (HWEG) and Other Fuels (2.5 percent); and Communication (1.0 percent).

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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