Boracay Workers Suffers Anew Amid COVID-19 Threat
Boracay workers livelihood suffers anew to the absence of tourists amid coronavirus threat (COVID-19) and travel ban in the Philippines.
Boracay residents are just recovering from the loss of income following its six-month closure in 2018, but the health crisis the country facing is another threat to their livelihood.
Boracay is the country’s leading tourist destination and tourism is the main source of income for its residents. It was just over a year ago when Boracay reopened to tourists after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources conducted a major clean-up there. Tourists once again flock to the now-clean island resort.
However, after the novel coronavirus which originated in Wuhan, China, the country has imposed travel restrictions since January. The country is temporarily no longer welcoming tourists from China.
Travel restrictions have been extended to include China’s special administrative regions including Hong Kong and Macau. The South Korean province of North Gyeongsang is also banned.
Boracay’s tourism industry relies on China and South Korea because of many tourist arrivals. Due to travel restrictions, businesses and residents are once again suffering from income loss.
In a report of Philstar, according to a vendor of souvenirs, “Matumal. Super talaga. Simula nung wala nang Chinese at saka Korean wala nang pumapasok. Takot na kasi sila baka mahawahan sila dito ng coronavirus.”
According to him, they used to sell up to P20,000 a day, but today it is only P1,000 a day. “Tunganga na naman kami. Nagre-recover pa nga lang, eh,” said a tourist guide for the island’s water activities.
READ ALSO: Iloilo, Aklan Provinces Impose Travel Bans To Prevent COVID-19
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