P30 billion worth of bookings in Boracay were canceled following the decision of Malacañang to close the island for six months.
An estimated 700,000 bookings with an earning value of about P30 billion pesos in Boracay will no longer be materialized due to the decision of is canceled Malacañang to temporarily close the island.
For a period of six months, the said tourist destination will not be available for local and foreign tourists.
Carriers catering the tourists’ transportation from Caticlan and Kalibo, Aklan also canceled some flights to adjust with the said impending closure, based on the article published in The Philippine Star.
On the other hand, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the company which operates the Caticlan airport expressed support to the decision of the government to close Boracay temporily.
“Addressing long-standing problems with sewage and solid wastes brought about by rapid growth of tourism, commerce and unfettered development now, is critical to ensuring Boracay’s long-term sustainability,” Ramon Ang, SMC president and chief operating officer said.
President of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines Jose Clemente III stated that they have to cancel bookings from May to October which directly affects thousands of tourists from the country and abroad.
For the month of May, Clemente said that from last year, there are already 170,000 people who booked their stay in the island.
“We have to cancel the trips because they got nowhere to go,” he said.
With this, Clemente also stated that P30 billion or 50 percent (covering the first six months) of the foreseen P62 billion in revenues for this year, will be lost.
In 2017, according to him, Boracay was able to earn P56 billion and this year, it is expected to increase by about P6 billion.
That conclusion came from the fact that the government has opened more chartered flights from China, based on the article.