KALIBO, Aklan – To reinvigorate the local tourism industry hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the Kalibo International Airport has reopened to Boracay Island-bound tourists.
But visitors from neighboring countries have to wait a little longer to visit Boracay. Travel restrictions were reimposed on countries with direct flights to Kalibo, Aklan to contain the Omicron variant of the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
International tourists are Boracay’s major market. For now, it’s the local tourists sustaining the island. Currently, the airport in Caticlan (the jump-off point of Boracay-bound tourists) has 21 domestic daily flights.
Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores expressed confidence that additional domestic flights will have a positive effect on the local tourism industry.
“Nakikita natin na halos puno ng turista ang Caticlan airport. Dahil bukas na ang Kalibo airport sa mga turista, malaki ang maitutulong nito sa ekonomiya ng Aklan, lalo na sa transport at local business,” he added.
Miraflores revealed they had initial talks with South Korean travel agencies for possible international flights in the first quarter of 2022, but the Omicron variant delayed the resumption of direct chartered flights to Kalibo airport.
“On hold ang international flights dahil may Omicron variant sa ibang bansa at ang South Korea, nasa red list,” the governor pointed out.
Boracay tourist arrivals picked up in October this year with a daily average of 3,000 visitors.
Quick Response (QR) code is auto-generated for inbound tourists as long as vaccination certificates or vaccination cards are presented for fully vaccinated, while partially and unvaccinated tourists must submit negative saliva or swab test results.
Miraflores also anticipates the number of tourists to rise in Boracay as Christmas and New Year draw near.
“May mga hotels at resorts na full occupancy sa mga domestic tourists this December up to January,” he added./PN