Boracay reopens, gov’t imposes limits on use of island resort

October 30, 2018

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat briefs foreign media during a forum held a week before the reopening of the popular resort island on Oct. 26, 2018. Boracay, one of the world’s best resort islands, was closed to tourists for six months after President Rodrigo Duterte described it as a “cesspool” and ordered its rehabilitation. The government has undertaken measure to improve the island’s road infrastructure and sewerage systems. It has also set limits to the entry of tourists by setting a cap on arrivals and imposed restrictions on the use of its powdery white sand beaches. Puyat however has said it will take until December 2019 to complete the rehab of the island.