DOT’s Puyat: Duterte to visit Boracay to demonstrate safe domestic travel amid danger COVID-19

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 10:44 am

For the first time since the reopening of the destination, President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit Boracay Island in an attempt to convince the public that domestic tourism is secure in the face of the 2019 coronavirus threat (COVID-19).

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Duterte would travel to the island of Boracay next Thursday, March 12.

As part of its initiatives to mitigate losses from the decline in international tourist arrivals due to COVID-19 alert, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been vocal in promoting domestic tourism.

The Philippines has imposed travel bans on mainland China, the COVID-19 epicenter, as well as other selected countries with reported cases.

Puyat said Duterte’s visit to Boracay will be the first since a six-month shutdown of the island destination was imposed in 2018 by the Government.

The continuing construction of the main road network on the island, under the Public Works and Highways Department (DPWH), is scheduled to be completed by April or May.