Tourism is nothing but experience – Aklan guv
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – No backing out.
The provincial government is resolved to improve the facilities at the Caticlan Jetty port by reclaiming portions of Barangay Caticlan, the main jump-off point to Boracay Island.
Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez said by 2012, the provincial government hopes to achieve one million tourists, citing, the 800,000 tourists target by 2011.
“What is important is we offer the best facilities for our incoming travelers when they reach the Caticlan jetty port. The only way to improve the services in the jetty port is to reclaim portions of Barangay Caticlan for expansion,” the governor said.
“There are oppositions to this government project, but, we believed in the feasibility (of this plan) that could complement the efforts of stakeholders in the promotion and development of domestic tourism. Tourism is nothing but experience.”
The provincial government is expected to open new infrastructure and tourism-related facilities in the jetty port in the proposed reclamation area. A P260-million bond flotation will finance the initial phase of the reclamation of coastal areas.
Provincial Tourism Officer Roselle Ruiz, also the Western Visayas representative of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP), reported a 24 percent increase in visitors arrivals for the month of September.
Tourists registered 46,132 arrivals compared to 37,113 from the same period last year, of which 21,428 are foreigners and 23,779 are domestic tourists.
“Despite the hostage taking incident in Manila, our visitors from South Korea and Taiwan, balikbayans and domestic tourists continue to visit the island of Boracay. This is an indication we could reached the 700,000 tourists this year,” Marquez said.
From January to September this year, the island of Boracay achieved tourist arrivals of 607,537 attributed to the regular regional flights from Taipei, Taiwan and Incheon, South Korea.