Tourists in Boracay (Source: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippines reopened its resort island of Boracayto tourists after a six-month closure for rehabilitation.
After a six-month hiatus, the Boracay resort site has a new face-lift as buildingswere bulldozed and businesses pushed back to create a 30-metre buffer zone fromthe waterline. Nearly 400 hotels and restaurants deemed to violate local environmental laws were ordered closed.
All water sports save for swimming are banned for the time being, whileBoracay's three casinos have been permanently shut down in line with PresidentRodrigo Duterte's wishes.
The government is now prohibiting large parties on the beach, as well assmoking and drinking in public places. Open fires and the use of kerosene gasor fuel are also no longer allowed on the beach.
The new rules say 19,200 tourists will be allowed on the island at any one time,with the government aiming to enforce that by controlling the number of availablehotel rooms. Airlines as well as ferries were told to restrict service to thearea.
The 1,060-hectare island, located some 310 kilometres south of the capitalManila, has been hailed as having one of the greatest beaches in the world.
It was ordered closed by President Duterte in April after describing it as a"cesspool" of water pollution.
Boracay welcomed more than 2 million tourists in 2017, generating more than 56billion pesos (over 1 billion USD) in tourism receipts. - VNA
After a six-month hiatus, the Boracay resort site has a new face-lift as buildingswere bulldozed and businesses pushed back to create a 30-metre buffer zone fromthe waterline. Nearly 400 hotels and restaurants deemed to violate local environmental laws were ordered closed.
All water sports save for swimming are banned for the time being, whileBoracay's three casinos have been permanently shut down in line with PresidentRodrigo Duterte's wishes.
The government is now prohibiting large parties on the beach, as well assmoking and drinking in public places. Open fires and the use of kerosene gasor fuel are also no longer allowed on the beach.
The new rules say 19,200 tourists will be allowed on the island at any one time,with the government aiming to enforce that by controlling the number of availablehotel rooms. Airlines as well as ferries were told to restrict service to thearea.
The 1,060-hectare island, located some 310 kilometres south of the capitalManila, has been hailed as having one of the greatest beaches in the world.
It was ordered closed by President Duterte in April after describing it as a"cesspool" of water pollution.
Boracay welcomed more than 2 million tourists in 2017, generating more than 56billion pesos (over 1 billion USD) in tourism receipts. - VNA
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