Boracay tourist arrivals, terminal fees collections went up from January to May
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY – Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez has cited the positive growth in tourist arrivals in the island of Boracay and collections in roll-on roll-off vessels and terminal fees in Caticlan and Cagban jetty ports.
For the month of May alone, the two jetty ports posted P13.526-million collections while from January to May this year, the provincial government collected P55,765,276.00 compared to the collections last year of the same period of P46,427,625.00 or an increase of P9.337-million.
Marquez said the famed island of Boracay registered 378,694 tourists for the first five months over the same period one year before with 337,664 arrivals or 12.15 percent increase in tourist arrivals.

In 2008, Boracay tourists recorded at 320,994, of which 85,887 were foreigners from January to May. Last year, international travelers also accounted for 85,687 arrivals for the first five months.
“The increase in collections would mean additional revenues for the province, more projects in the communities and more jobs for our constituents,” Marquez said in his Governor’s Report to the People at DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo on Saturday morning.
To improve the services and security, the provincial government is embarking for a unified ticketing system and installation of x-ray machines in the jetty ports and terminals this year.
Jetty port administrator Niven Maquirang earlier said the procurement of x-ray machines is for enhanced security of all incoming and departing passengers for Boracay Island.
Caticlan jetty port also serves as jump-off point of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway project of the national government in Panay Island.
Meanwhile, the Aklan Provincial Tourism Council, co-chaired by Vicky Ramos-Antonino, and the Provincial Tourism Office held a two-day festival planning seminar workshop by encouraging stakeholders and local officials to develop potential tourism events and festivals in the province.