Record-high tourists for Guimaras, Boracay in this year's Lenten break says DOT exec
Trompeta
Influx of tourists for this year's Lenten break reached its record-high primarily in the island-province of Guimaras and Aklan's Boracay Island.
And the celebration was a big success too with relatively no major incident as per confirmation made by Tourism Regional Director Edwin Trompeta.
With comparison made in last year's statistics, Director Trompeta said in Boracay alone an estimated 60,000 guests flocked the island.
Guimaras on the other hand saw a mix of local and foreign tourists with the internationally-renowned Good Friday "Pagtaltal" as main attraction. Beach resorts here were also fully-booked with tourist attractions scattered throughout the Guimaras mainland.
Director Trompeta gave credit to the over-all efforts of various local government units here including the stable peace and order situation of the region.
Western Visayas cops in the duration of the Lenten break had police forces on full alert amidst possible harassments and destabilization activities of anti-government factions.
In Guimaras, Senior Superintendent Leo Puertollano effected a weeklong police alert with surprise police checkpoints in major entry and exit points of Guimaras towns. An island-wide police visibility was also ordered at the height of the Lenten break if only to deter criminal activities targeting tourists.
Iloilo had its share of tourists however the city and province served as take-off points for most tourists headed to Guimaras and Boracay.
No major incidents were reported by the Philippine National Police hierarchy attributed to the Lenten break here.