MANILA — With the belief that not all resort owners in Boracay are violators of environmental laws, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) on Monday appealed to the government to reconsider the resort island’s total closure and let compliant establishments to remain open during its rehabilitation.
PTAA president Marlene Dado Jante said they will hold meetings with both the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to air their side.
Jante believes the government will take into consideration their recommendations in solving the Boracay crisis, especially with the fact that there are around 17,000 workers who depend on the island’s tourism for livelihood.
“The PTAA has always been pushing for the growth of the country’s tourism industry because it positively impacts the lives of our countrymen. Loss of livelihood should never be an option,” Jante said.
As of posting, the DOT has yet given a statement on the appeal but on Sunday, DOT Secretary Wanda Teo assured the DOT is in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to address possible job displacements in the island.
As the PTAA pushed to limit shut down on erring establishments, Jante noted the association is also ready should the government decide to temporarily close Boracay.
A number of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and wellness centers in the country, including those in Boracay are allied members of the PTAA.
Other allied members of the association include airlines, tourist transport operators, convention organizers, and handicraft stores.
“With a lot of tourism destinations in the country that have been developed over the past few years, travel agencies have multiple options for client travel within the country especially during this summer season. We have survived financial crisis and even disease outbreaks. Our members will be able to cope with this,” she said.
PTAA will send a team this month to inspect the facilities of their 18-member resorts in Boracay to guarantee its compliance with government regulations.
“We hold our members accountable to the highest standards in their operations,” Jante assured.
“If there are infringements, we will demand that they correct them while also expecting an upgrade on their facilities and services,” the executive added.
Jante acknowledged that responsible tourism requires all stakeholders, including their members, to take responsibility and implement actions that will ensure that destinations like Boracay remain sustainable.
“The PTAA has always stood up for the greater good of the country’s tourism industry,” she said, adding they too want to create better places for people to live and visit. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
