APEC inspection team in Boracay

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

In Boracay Island, a 10-man inspection team will be arriving here on February 3 to inspect potential venues and facilities for the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings.

Tourism Boracay officer-in-charge Artemio ‘Tim’ said Boracay Island bidded for two ministerial meetings on December this year and in May 2015.

According to him, APEC team will personally inspect the meeting facilities and hotels for leaders and ministers of the entire Asia-Pacific. 

“The APEC team will be inspecting Boracay Regency, Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa, Fairways and Bluewaters, Alta Vista Boracay and other hotels and will be conducting coordination meetings with local officials,” he said.

Boracay Island is among the short-listed meeting sites, but, APEC-National Organizing Committee has no final decision yet for the venues of ministerial and summit meetings for an estimated 5,000 delegates from APEC member economies. 

The Philippines first hosted an APEC leaders’ summit in 1996 at the Subic Freeport. 

Ticar said the APEC inspection team will be considering the accommodations, security, logistics, accessibility and infrastructure of potential venues ahead of APEC events. 

APEC Summit on 2015 will be participated by 21 Pacific-Rim leaders from Thailand, Chile, Russia, Brunei Darrusalam, Peru, Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and host Philippines.