For the first time since the pandemic began, international cruise ships are making their way back to Boracay.
Just a day before Valentine’s, the international cruise ship MV Seabourn Encore arrived in Boracay from Singapore.
Hosting almost 600 tourists and 500 crew members, the ship stayed on the island for eight hours so that visitors could tour the beaches, souvenir shops, and restaurants.
“Way back during our pre-pandemic, they used to be our regular clients and they added to our tourist arrival. We are happy that at least, they have returned,” says Malay tourism officer Felix Gregorio Delos Santos.
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The MV Seabourn Ovation, one of the cruise line’s other ships, was originally set to arrive in February 2020. However, the trip was canceled due to the rising cases of COVID-19.
The last recorded cruise ship in Boracay was in 2018. This year, the popular tourist destination is expecting visits from at least 18 cruise ships, with more set to arrive until 2025.
The island of Boracay in Malay town, Aklan province is looking forward to welcoming the first luxury cruise ship to visit since the start of the pandemic in 2020.https://t.co/bJVjcMnQ7u
— Philippine News Agency (@pnagovph) February 10, 2023
Delos Santos estimated the island’s daily tourist arrival from 5,000 to 6,000. “In January, we have reached 177,000 and hopefully it will increase this February,” he says.
Visiting the island destination is much easier now, since tourists only need to provide their booking information with a DOT-accredited accommodation establishment.
Hopefully, this year will mark the upward trend of tourism in the country and the rest of the world.
Banner image via Twitter @SeabournCruise.
