The paradise recovered while Boracay prepares to celebrate
The paradise recovered while Boracay prepares to celebrate
The Philippines reopened the tourist island of Boracay on Friday, ending a six-month close to clean the filth of tourism on its pristine beaches.
But do not expect a quick return to the good (or bad) old times: there are now limits on the number of people allowed on the island and new restrictions on the behavior of tourists.
The countries of Southeast Asia are struggling to cope with an overwhelming increase in tourism that pollutes their most idyllic destinations. Cheap air travel and rising average incomes in Asia, especially in China, have brought an increasing number of visitors to tropical islands such as Boracay, joining westerners who emerged in waves of tourism before places where local authorities often prioritize revenue over the environment.
In Boracay, officials said the situation had deteriorated to such an extent that there were dangerous levels of human feces in the water. The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, called the island. a "black hole" Before ordering your closing.
Authorities dismantled the buildings that invaded the beaches, repaved roads, built sewerage systems and forced the resettlement of thousands of local residents whose livelihood depended on backpacking crowds.
Now, the beaches are once again white and calm, while the construction of improved infrastructure continues. The local governor, Florencio Miraflores, said on Friday that the reopening of the island was a source of pride, but that the closure affected the local economy. "Many of our people were displaced," he said. "The companies suffered. And the impact on all sectors of the province has been enormous. "
The total number of visitors allowed on the island, once more than two million a year, has been reduced. Only about 6000 people per day will be allowed to enter, and the capacity of the island will be limited at any time to approximately 19,000, half of the number that witnessed its beaches during the peak periods in previous years.
The new strict rules prohibit smoking in public places, water sports will be regulated and fires, fireworks and electric lights will be banned on the beach. Only the opening of businesses will be allowed once they have been certified as meeting the new requirements.
Visitors gather on the beach to watch the sunset in Boracay on Friday.
Photo:
Joeal Calupitan / Associated Press
Rehabilitation authorities in the Philippines say that Boracay is only their first target and that they will be looking for similar treatment elsewhere.
Similar challenges have hit Other popular destinations on the beach of Southeast Asia. Thailand closed Maya Bay indefinitely, appearing in Leonardo DiCaprio's movie "The Beach". Indonesia declared a "garbage emergency" in Bali last year and gathered thousands of volunteers to eliminate some of the millions of tons of plastic that end up in the ocean. outside of Indonesia every year.
Environmentalists said the closure of Boracay, although not perfect, has been a valuable lesson for other countries to find a balance between economic development through tourism and sustainability. "Boracay is not an isolated issue," said Vince Cinches, oceans and political activist in Greenpeace Philippines. "We're glad it happened," he said, but "we also ask for a strong responsibility."
Write to Jake Maxwell Watts in jake.watts@wsj.com
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