THE Department of Tourism (DoT) has called on sector players and local government units to work together in the development and promotion of “alternative destinations” as Boracay, the country’s most popular island stop, undergoes an overhaul from environmental abuse.
The multi-department group that is overseeing the ongoing shake-up of establishments that are non-compliant to environment and other laws is proposing a two-month closure of Boracay. DoT Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, in a statement released March 9, said she will “personally steward the promotion of the country’s countless islands that similarly possess the qualities that earned Boracay its title ‘The World’s Best Island.’” “We are very fortunate that God blessed our country with so many, many places as beautiful as what Boracay and its coastal waters used to be,” said Ms. Teo, “(The) Philippines’ emerging destinations are so diverse. Many are fast-becoming water sports hubs for scuba diving, deep-sea photography and surfing. Others offer family-oriented adventures at farm resorts and eco-parks, and still others provide wellness and spa services.”
