Boracay still unsure of APEC hosting – DoT

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Department of Tourism (DoT) is still unsure if the famous Boracay Island will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting in 2015, a regional official said.

DoT regional director Atty. Helen Catalbas said, “Boracay Island and other potential venues in Western Visayas for APEC have to wait the final decisions from President Benigno S. Aquino III.”

  

Catalbas said the “shortlisted destinations and venues for APEC are not 100 percent sure of the hosting of ministerial meetings. The national organizing committee has yet to finalize and is currently inspecting and evaluating the possible sites.” 

Asked on the advantages of hosting the APEC, Catalbas said “although we have a lot of work to do, there are certainly advantages in the hosting of an international event. It will make or break Boracay Island."

The regional director said the hosting of APEC ministerial meeting in the island will have the international media’s attention and much larger opportunities for Boracay Island to promote its tourism to the international community. 

The potential benefits to the business sectors and its impact to tourism are also significant especially the print and television media will be on Boracay. 

They will be showing to the world the natural beauty, warm people, lush hotels and resorts, cultural aspect of Aklan and Boracay and the capacity of the island resort to host major gatherings of international interests.

APEC 2015 will be the second time for the Philippines has hosted the annual gathering of world leaders and ministers in the Pacific Rim. In November 1996, the country hosted the APEC summit in Subic Bay in Zambales. 

APEC is the premier economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC was established in 1989 and comprises 21 member economies from around the Pacific Rim, including the United States.