Philippines Will Close ‘Cesspool’ Boracay Island for 6-Month Cleanup
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
One of the world’s top beach destinations, Boracay Island in the Philippines, will be shutdown for six months for a major overhaul, the Philippine government said Wednesday, after garbage, pollution and other environmental concerns have mounted with the island’s increasing popularity.
Boracay, which was named the No. 2 best beach in Asia by TripAdvisor, has seen rapid growth with tourists for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Last year, about 1.7 million tourists visited the island over just a 10-month period, the government-run Philippines Information Agency says. Tourism seems to have grown faster than Boracay’s infrastructure developed, and due to the high traffic of visitors, the island has problems like massive heaps of garbage and unregulated sewage pipes that drain onto beaches and into the sea.
In February, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the island was a “cesspool,” CNN reports. “As long as there is s*** coming out of those pipes draining to the sea, I will never give you the time of the day (to return)” to the island, he said.
When Boracay officially shuts down on April 26, no tourists will be allowed on the island. Boracay accounts for about 15% of the Philippines’ total number of tourists, and the beach destination brought in $1.07 billion in tourism revenue in 2017, reports Al Jazeera. Its closure poses a huge threat to Boracay’s economy, with more than 36,000 workers expected to be affected and a loss of $1 billion in tourism spending predicted.
The government is floating “calamity funds” to help bolster the workers affected by the island’s closure. Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific are scaling back their Boracay-bound flights starting in late April.
Although the environmental rehabilitation is expected to take until October, Bloomberg cites Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre saying that speeding up the overhaul could put Boracay’s “soft opening” somewhere around July.
(Photo by /AFP/Getty Images)
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.