In February 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte called Boracay island a "cesspool" and announced that he will close the popular destination for six (6) months for rehabilitation and arrest further environmental degradation. With the date of closure set in April, the island's tourism stakeholders expressed dismay over the national government's lack of consultation and coordination with those that will truly be affected. Boracay stakeholders felt it was time to voice their concerns about the imminent 3-6 month total closure of the islands by the national government.
Our agency was called by the concerned group of Boracay hotel operators to organize a press conference within one (1) week. The press conference's aim was to make the general public understand the apprehensions of Boracay island resort owners, tour operators, resort employees and informal service workers; and to hopefully initiate constructive dialogue with the national government to mitigate the dire implications of the impending tourism ban.
At CNN Philippines, Boracay stakeholders continue their appeal for clarity regarding the imminent closure of Boracay island. (Airing date: April 27, 2018)
View the clip on CNN Philippines' Youtube channel by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/2P5uK2p
36,000 JOBS, P56 BILLION 'AT STAKE' IF BORACAY CLOSES FOR A YEAR
by Chrisee Dela Paz, Rappler.com ( March 22, 2018)
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Over 36,000 jobs would be affected and about P56 billion in revenues would be foregone should the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte decide to close the world-famous Boracay Island for a year to fix its environmental woes.
Based on data provided by Boracay Foundation Incorporated, a non-profit, non-stock association, there are over 17,000 employees who would be directly affected by total closure of businesses. (READ: PH travel, tourism sectors girding for planned Boracay shutdown)
"These are employees of hotels, resorts, restaurants, dive shops, souvenir shops, tour activity centers, and transport providers," Boracay Foundation director Leonard Tirol said in a press conference in Makati City on Thursday, March 22.
Read the rest of the article here: https://bit.ly/2WYpXED