Travel advisories no crippling effect for Boracay Island
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

BORACAY – Foreign travel advisories issued by several countries have no big impact in the tourist arrivals in Boracay Island.
Tourism regional director Edwin Trompeta said travel warnings will not affect the island of Boracay as high peak visitor season gets underway.
“It is actually an advisory not a travel ban. This is a normal action of some countries to protect their citizens from terroristic acts, it is not something that could stop the tourists from coming to our country and travel tours from inviting tourists on the basis of intelligence reports,” Trompeta said.
“You don’t want to be caught offhanded and as a precaution for the safety and security, travellers are being urged to avoid travel in places where terroristic acts could happen."
The travel advisories came just days following the discovery of packages on cargo planes from Yemen apparently containing explosive materials. US President Barack Obama described the terror probe as “credible and potential terrorist threat.”
Just this week, travel warnings from the governments of Britain, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand were issued, citing, an attack is imminent at any time in the country, in public gathering places such as airports, shopping centers and churches frequented by foreign travelers.
Malacanang officials, however, allayed fears of the threat activities from terrorism, saying it the warnings were part of the heightened security concerns not just for the Philippines but also in other parts of the world.
Although there were cancellations in travel tours from Southern China for Boracay Island after the tragic August 23 incident, Trompeta said the hostage taking of Hong Kong tourists aboard a tour bus in Manila has no crippling effect in the tourism industry of Aklan and the resort island.
Trompeta said the Boracay Island is still packed with tourists with more than 650,000 vacationers this time of the year.
He said the island has escaped the brunt of travel advisories issued by Western countries through the years owing to its natural beauty and pristine beaches.