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Boracay as it reopens to tourists amid the COVID-19 pandemic in this photo taken on October 1, 2020. Stanley Buenafe Gajete

Article (news)

Boracay masyadong mahal?' Mayor defends terminal, environment fees

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Is Boracay getting too expensive for tourists? </p><p>This was the concern raised by<span style="background-color:transparent"> Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco after stakeholders “persistently raised” concerns about increasing fees in the tourist paradise. The tourism department is set to meet with local officials to discuss the issue. </span></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/1/23/dot-pinuna-ang-tumataas-na-presyo-ng-mga-aktibidad-sa-boracay-2202" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DOT to meet with Malay LGU on Boracay fees that might discourage tourism</a></div><p>&quot;Yung mga charges lang naman natin &#x27;yung environmental fee lang naman saka terminal fee. &#x27;Yun lang naman, dalawa. Wala namang ibang charges dyan,&quot; Mayor Floribar Bautista of Malay, Aklan told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.</p><p>Bautista said the environmental fee is P150 for Filipinos and P300 for foreign tourists, but the terminal fee is P150 for all guests. This means a local tourist pays P300 while a foreigner pays P450 every time they visit Boracay.</p><p>The mayor noted that it is natural for businesses to collect fees from visitors.</p><p>&quot;Sa kanila na yun, wala naman kami doon, ang LGU. Ang sa amin lang naman, yung obvious business taxes, kinokolekta namin sa establishments.&quot;</p><p>The mayor confirmed Boracay failed to meet its 2024 target of 2.3 million visitors, recording only 2.07 million tourist arrivals from January to December last year.</p><p>He blamed the weather, fewer tourist arrivals and changes in the academic calendar for the low turnout. </p><p>&quot;May mga factors na alam naman natin &#x27;yun last year, yung panahon. And then isa pa, yung paga-change ng schedule ng classes. Nakaapekto din yun. And then yung bumaba talaga yung Chinese national arrivals,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/2/27/ph-urged-to-look-beyond-china-for-tourism-boost-1843" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gov’t must look at other markets beyond China to boost PH tourism: think tank</a></div><p>The mayor said not a lot of South Korean group tours visit Boracay because of the long travel from the airport to the island.</p><p>&quot;Gusto kasi nila &#x27;yung airport ay dito na sa Caticlan. Ang problema naman ng Caticlan ay short &#x27;yung runway niya. Kulang pa doon sa pwede sa malaking mga eroplano,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;So sa Kalibo sana ang proposed namin, eh ayaw naman sa Kalibo dahil malayo daw, it took them at least 2 hours from Kalibo to Caticlan then Boracay.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kaya ang preferable nila, kung saan &#x27;yung mga destination na may airport agad doon,&quot; he explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2024/11/29/bohol-tourism-back-to-pre-pandemic-levels-but-other-areas-struggling-1249" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bohol tourism back to pre-pandemic levels, but areas struggling: hotel owner</a></div><p>The mayor said he thinks Boracay needs more promotion and marketing in order to attract more tourists.</p><p>&quot;Kaya nang sumama kami sa , we joined the World Social Market nung November 4 doon sa London, yun biglang pumick-up yung arrival namin ng Boracay. May Europeans na market ngayon,&quot; he noted.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ga6kpr9Tj5c?&amp;ab_channel=ABS-CBNNewsautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The mayor of Malay town in Aklan, where Boracay is located, said the local government unit only charges a terminal fee and environmental fee from tourists.</p>

The mayor of Malay town in Aklan, where Boracay is located, said the local government unit only charges a terminal fee and environmental fee from tourists.