Brighter prospects for Boracay’s tourism in 2010
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

(Akeanon) Industriya it turismo sa Boracay, mas pang magabaskog makaron nga 2010 - DOT / Bombo Radyohttp://www.bomboradyo.com/other_dialect.asp?ID=126051

Tourism officials see brighter prospects for Aklan and the island of Boracay in 2010 with bigger tourist arrivals and new investments / PHOTOS BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

BORACAY – Tourism regional director Edwin Trompeta sees brighter prospects for the island of Boracay with more tourist arrivals and investments this year.
Trompeta told Aklanforum that Boracay should expect a much bigger arrivals this year and the years to come and an increase of direct flights from North and East Asia including Eastern Russia.
“The developments had never happened in Boracay before as 2009 saw the most number of foreign tour operators, travel agents and travel writers visited the island resort under our familiarization trips and invitational programs. This should translate to over 5,000 agents selling Boracay all over the world,” he said.
The year 2009 ended with the local and foreign tourists surpassing the 500,000 mark in tourist arrivals since 2006 and the opening of world-class hotels and resorts, notably, the multi-billion ShangriLa Boracay Resort and Spa in Barangay Yapak.

Trompeta pointed out that the investments in this island will only be active if the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) is implemented by the local government unit of Malay.

CLUP is a development masterplan initiated by the Department of Tourism (DoT) to sustain the tourism industry, preserve the environment and resources and restore order on Boracay Island.
Early this year, the Boracay Island Water Company (BIWC) will invest an initial P250-million to upgrade the water supply and sewerage system for the island resort.

The provincial government of Aklan is also eyeing to establish a P500-million Marina project involving an improved Caticlan jetty port, the construction of a state-of-the-art 100-room hotel and wellness center and cable car facilities for tourists.
“The bill of Congressman Florencio Miraflores to create a tourism authority in Boracay will also be the hope for more investments,” Trompeta said.
Miraflores has authored House Bill No. 5835 establishing a Boracay Island Special Tourism Zone Tourism Authority and pending with the Committee on Tourism.