Chinese tourists dismayed over Boracay’s imminent closure

Chinese tourists wanting to go to Boracay were reportedly disappointed over the imminent closure of this resort island for at least six months.

In a news conference here, Thomas Santiago, president of the  Boracay Filipino Chinese Tour Guides Association, said the national government must learn from the Manila experience of shutting down both Chinese and Taiwanese tourists.

“Remember when a group of Chinese tourists was held hostage in Manila several years ago? As a result of this, only a few Chinese tourists ended up visiting Manila then. But when Manila opened its doors to Chinese tourists once again, skilled workers working at the hotels and restaurants were unprepared for the influx of tourists. This may also happen in Boracay, as skilled workers in certain fields may go different paths, which would result in the vacuum of skilled personnel,” he said.

“We are willing to help solve the environmental woes in Boracay, but only if we will be given a chance,” he said, adding that the tour guides’ association has around 130 regular members in Boracay.

Already, the association said, at least three airlines already temporarily cancelled their direct flights to Kalibo. Among those cancelled is a direct flight coming from
Hong Kong.

“There are eight cities from China with direct flights to Kalibo. Each Chinese tourist spends around P30,000 to P40,000 for their three-day stay in Boracay. The impact of closure would be unimaginable for us,” he added.

Chinese tourists love Boracay because of its seamless travel and pristine nature.