Philippine island once called ‘cesspool’ reopens to tourists
BORACAY, Philippines — Boatloads of tourists sailed Friday to the Philippines’ Boracay island, which officials reopened to visitors after a six-month closure to clean waters the president had called a “cesspool” due to years of overcrowding, partying and neglect.
Officials on the island in central Aklan province have imposed new rules to regulate the influx of visitors and beach parties, decongest resorts and prevent sewage from being discharged directly into the turquoise waters. Only a portion of Boracay’s hotels and other businesses have reopened under the new rules, and a fraction of the more than 20,000 workers who lost their jobs have been rehired.
“Let us treat the island as our home. Keep it clean and pristine. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke in the beach, don’t litter,” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said in a message to incoming tourists.
Cabinet officials and local celebrities attended a ceremony to mark Boracay’s “soft opening” on a white-sand beach near a port where ferries unloaded tourists.