By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Department of Tourism (DOT) commended on Wednesday, July 13, “Paradise reborn” Island of Boracay’s inclusion in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2022.
“The DOT affirms its pride and honor as Boracay Island once again proved its allure as a tourist haven. Such recognition will surely help us attain our goal of regaining our position in the global market,” Tourism Secretary Christine Frasco said.
Frasco said Boracay has a “multitude of sites and tourism activities” that the island could showcase to the world, and that she is looking forward to “developing and promoting the talents” of the local people and the products that have “potential for national and global marketability.”
TIME’s Charlie Campbell also lauded the rebirth of Boracay from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which hit the country back in 2020.
“Then the pandemic struck, and the Philippines closed its borders, halting even domestic tourism to Boracay. It took a severe toll on the local economy, but the silver lining was that this 4-sq.-mi. speck in the Visayas island chain had proper time to truly recover,” he said.
“As of February 2022, international visitors can finally revel in this revamped, recuperated, natural playground after what was effectively a three-year convalescence. Locals report the return of flora and fauna, like sea turtles, and hospitality has come back just as spectacularly,” he added.
Frasco said government agencies will “exert all efforts to put in the limelight not only the country’s premier tourist destinations like Boracay, but also other places of interest in the country which may not have been given equal focus and attention in the past.”
It was in 2018 when former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Boracay’s six-month closure for its rehabilitation and redevelopment initiatives.
Also included in the list of the World’s Greatest Places are the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Seoul in Korea, and Doha in Qatar. – ag
