Aklan guv cites P8.2-bilion receipts, 15.8 % increase in Boracay tourist arrivals
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY – Tourism arrivals in the famed island of Boracay has reached 444,881 in the first semester of the year, according to Governor Carlito Marquez.
From January to June, local and foreign tourists increased by 60,968 or 15.8 percent compared to 383,813 tourist arrivals of the previous year. Marquez said the influx of tourists in Boracay Island translates to P8.2-billion tourism receipts.
“The provincial government is optimistic that this year’s arrival will surpass the 649,559 registered tourists last year,” Marquez said in his regular Governor’s Report to the People over DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo.
The governor also cited the increase in revenue of the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) due to the operations of two jetty ports in Caticlan and Cagban.

In the first six months of operations, the jetty ports collected P65,797,478 compared to P51,011,585 of last year or P14.785-million, roughly 28.98 percent increase in collections.
Marquez also stressed the increasing number of tourists in Boracay Island with the domestic and international flights from Manila and regional destinations to the Kalibo International Airport (KIA).
He said four local airlines operate daily flights in KIA – Cebu Pacific has six flights, Philippine Airlines has four, Air Philippines has two and Zest Air with three flights
Pudong, China-Kalibo flights of China Southern Airlines, Spirit of Manila from Kalibo to Taiwan and Zest Air to Incheon, South Korea have four flights every week while Philippine Airlines, China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines have twice direct flights to Kalibo.
Marquez said the Kalibo International Airport needs more facilities to accommodate commercial flights from key points in Asia to enhance the status of the main airport of the province as an international airport.