Malay Government: Closure Of Boracay Island “Fake News”
BORACAY ISLAND – The government of Malay, Aklan says that social media posts that claim that Boracay Island would be closed once more due to COVID-19 is “fake news”.
According to Panay News, the Malay town government said that the social media posts who claimed such information were false.
The government repeated on March 3 that the island, as well as the entire town remained free from coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The government further warned the public against sharing false and unconfirmed information on social media.
The local town mayor Froliba Bautista sid, however, that the business in the famed islanmd has been suffering due to the virus threat, ading that tourist arrivals have gone down by 40%.
In February, there are about 103,834 tourists, which is lower compared to January’s 172,695.
Based on the report, on April 2018, the island was closed for six months for massive rehabilitation. It reopened on October 2018.
President Rodrigo Duterte aimed to kick off his tour in Boracay to show that the Philippines remained a safe place to visit despite the outbreak but the Malacañang Palace cancelled such event on March 11.
It could have been the president’s first trip since its reopening should the visit pushed through. Prior to its rehabilitation, Duterte compared the island to a cesspool.
Elena Brugger, chapter president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Boracay, asid that tourism establishments are “badly hit” by the pandemic.
“The effect economically is not good because no people, no business,”
South Koreans have been Boracay island’s top visitors. However, the government implemented a temporary ban that has been hit by COVID-19.
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