Government taking steps in solving Boracay environmental problems
Department of Tourism Undersecretary Salvador Sarabia Jr. yesterday assured that the government is taking steps in solving all the environmental problems affecting the world-renown Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.
The island is now facing problems on its environment with the massive construction of new resorts without proper and required permits such as the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), waste disposal problem, flooding and conversion of wetlands.
Sarabia said "all the problems can be solved" in Boracay as it becomes everyone's concern. We want the next generation to see that the country's number one beach is still here. There is so much to enjoy about Boracay. Boracay is the showcase of the nation's tourism industry, he said.
The undersecretary did not elaborate on how and what have the government especially the municipal government of Malay and the provincial government of Aklan have done to address all environmental related problems in the island.
The best things offered in Boracay should be given emphasis instead of highlighting all the problems affecting the island. It will even help more in the tourism industry. The people should be more creative, said Sarabia.
The tourist arrivals in Boracay Island in 2007 increased by 7.67 percent compared in 2006. The tourist arrivals posted at 596,707 domestic and foreign tourists. The more than half-million tourist arrivals generated a total of P10,969,503,463.80 in tourism receipts.
Of the 596,707 tourist arrivals, 359,433 were domestic tourists, 208,870 were foreign tourists and 28,404 were overseas Filipinos. Boracay posted the highest increase of tourist arrivals in 2005 with 16.49 percent. For the foreign tourists, Korea posted a very high record with 128,909 in 2007.