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SERENITY With the arrival of tourists amid travel restrictions, Boracay’s white beach has become a picture of serenity. —PICTURE CONTRIBUTED
MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte will not visit the recently reopened island of Boracay for now due to his busy schedule, Malacañang said Friday.
“Well, these are abnormal times, but I’m sure he would like to visit Boracay too. But right now it is very busy in Malago (Malacañang clubhouse) nowadays. So I don’t think a visit to Boracay will happen in the near future, ”said presidential spokesman Harry Roque in an interview on CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“But let’s not rule it out because it is important to encourage people to help our tourism industry,” he added.
Boracay has had a pale reopening on Thursday, having received only 35 tourists after months of closure due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
READ: Slow day in Boracay
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said that the reopening of Boracay, the Philippines’ top beach destination, to an expanded market signaled the safe and gradual revival of the country’s tourism industry amid the pandemic.
Tourists wishing to visit Boracay must have a negative RT-PCR test result no earlier than 48 hours before traveling. However, this rule exempts Aklan residents.
‘Palace briefing in Bora’
Meanwhile, Roque said he will hold his regular press conference at the Palace from Boracay on Monday to help attract more tourists.
“We will hold our press conference on Monday from Boracay and of course this is our small contribution to the reopening of the tourism industry, particularly in Boracay,” he said.
/ MUF
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