Tourist police keep watch on Boracay holidaymakers

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY - Tourist police has stepped up security to ensure the safety of tourists and residents on the popular Aklan resort island of Boracay.

Thousands of foreign and local tourists flocked to the island ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Home to the countrys' premier white sand beaches, Boracay has remained the favorite destination for Asian tourists.

Aklan police director Senior Superintendent Epifanio Bragais, Jr. said tourist police would be deployed at the Cagban and Caticlan ports, the one-entry and one-exit points to the island for security and safety.

The police officers are also implementing tight security in the beachfront, bars, restaurants and hotels as the island braced for the traditional New Year celebrations.

Close to 600,000 tourists visited Boracay Island this year, especially the main markets from Korea, Japan and China. Boracay's tourism industry has managed to lure tourists from Russia, Taiwan, Hongkong and United States during the peak season in the island that stretches through Christmas Day and Chinese New Year.

Apart from the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO), the Philippine Coast Guard will enforce security measures this holiday season in Caticlan jetty port for roll-on roll-off vessels. Security units will be deployed to patrol the shorelines of Boracay to compliment the security forces in the island.

The year-end surge of tourists in Boracay Island is expected as the Philippine Airlines and Zest Air opened additional flights from Taipei and Taiwan and the high rate of local tourists coming to Aklan and Boracay Island also forced airline companies to open extra flights in Kalibo International Airport and Caticlan domestic airport.

Overall, the security had been boosted in the lead-up to the Christmas and New Year Eve celebrations, the police said.