50K tourists expected to visit Boracay during Holy Week

An estimated 50,000 tourists are expected to visit the island of Boracay this Holy Week, according to a Caticlan jetty port official / PHOTO BOY RYAN ZABAL

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Some 50,000 tourists are expected to come for Semana Santa in Boracay Island. 

Caticlan jetty port administrator Niven Maquirang said the increase in the number of visitors travelling to Boracay begins on Monday. 

Tourists start coming in from neighboring countries, which peaks at around 50,000 until Black Saturday.  Hotels for Holy Week vacations are almost fully booked while jetty port terminals will be filled with passengers from Roxas port (Mindoro) to Caticlan and Cagban ports. 

According to tourism office, China and Korea are still the largest tourism markets, providing 60 percent of the total foreign arrivals.

On Maundy Thursday, Regent Seven Seas Voyager will anchor port at around 10 a.m. in Boracay, bringing in 700 passengers for its 17-nights sail from Hongkong to Singapore. 

Maquirang said x-ray machines and round-the-clock public assistance desks are also installed for immediate assistance for passengers in Caticlan and Cagban ports. 

Security guards will be deployed also in strategic areas for increased visibility along with the medical personnel to assist the passengers. 

During the Holy Week, Philippine Coast Guard is also deploying more personnel to ensure safety of passengers and  to check the seaworthiness of roll-on roll-off vessels and sea crafts in Caticlan and Cagban ports. 

Police are also bracing for the large number of vacationers to flock to Boracay for the Holy Week. 

To ensure safety of the public, the Aklan Police Provincial Office is implementing ‘Ligtas Sumvac 2015’ for the entire summer season.