Philippine's crown jewel resort island Boracay is reborn, but not all are glad

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called Boracay a 'cesspool', a shocking label for the country's crown jewel resort island. He then closed the island to tourists for six months for a massive cleanup. When it was reopened in late October, there were fewer hotels and restaurants, a cap on the number of visitors and a stop to the dumping of raw sewage into the open sea. The Straits Times visited the holiday isle recently to gauge reactions to the changes.

Since concluding an extensive six-month makeover, Boracay has had to scale back from “party central” to something more laid-back. For now, most tourists do not mind the more mellow experience.

With fewer tourists and a slew of new restrictions, those who live off the island braiding hair and selling trinkets and souvenirs have seen their incomes shrink, even as their expenses rise. Tourists taking a ride on wooden outrigger canoes with bri — White Beach, Boracay’s main strip, a 4km stretch of soft, white sand and emerald green sea. PHOTOS: CRISTINA MENINA FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

Raul Dancel Philippines Correspondent In Boracay (Aklan)

Updated

Published

Feb 05, 2019, 05:00 AM

It was something Boracay had not seen in a very long time. On Dec 31, just before 2019 rolled in, the island's main strip, known as White Beach, was dark and still - no fireworks, no parties, no campari-swigging revellers.

All that could be heard were the hum of the surf and the rustling of palm fronds as a gentle breeze swept through the groves.

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