AKLAN, Philippines – Boracay Island fell short of its target to welcome 2.3 million tourists in 2024, with the Malay town government recording just a little over two million arrivals days after Christmas, a decline from the 2.15 million visitors the tourism-dependent town logged in 2023.
But Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista said on Saturday, December 28, the renowned tourism destination could still close the month with around 2.1 million tourists for this year.
Bautista attributed the shortfall to fewer Chinese tourists due to tensions between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea, and climate change impacts, which include a series of tropical cyclones that disrupted travel plans.
“This year, if not for several factors, we might have reached our 2.3 million tourist target. In 2025, we will still aim for 2.3 million tourists,” he said.
The Malay Tourism Office (MTO) reported slightly over two million visitors to Boracay as of December 26. Two days later, 2,000 more tourists arrived aboard the cruise ship M/V Norwegian Spirit.
Monthly data from the local tourism office showed Boracay’s performance throughout the year:
- January: 172,913
- February: 174,364
- March: 191,326
- April: 182,647
- May: 205,246
- June: 183,755
- July: 159,826
- August: 121,975
- September: 145,021
- October: 162,451
- November: 162,451
The town government registered another 130,728 as of December 23, over 10,000 more a day after Christmas Day, and an additional 2,000 last Saturday, December 28.
The island saw its highest single-day arrival of 10,725 tourists on December 26, a bright spot amid the challenges.
Boracay’s tourism performance this year was heavily influenced by external factors.
“The climate change issue, tensions in the West Philippine Sea, and global conflicts affected our tourist numbers,” Bautista said.
He said that while Boracay had anticipated a surge in Chinese tourists in the first half of the year, geopolitical issues deterred their arrival.
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xillian had expressed support for promoting Boracay during a September 2023 visit. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese tourists were among the island’s top visitors.
To address the decline, Malay collaborated with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to promote halal tourism starting in September. Malay tourism chief Felix delos Santos said they would evaluate its impact on tourist numbers by early January.
The ongoing war in Ukraine also contributed to the reduced influx of tourists from Russia, Ukraine, and NATO-member countries, which had been a growing market for Boracay in recent years.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that four strong typhoons in November, attributed to the La Niña weather phenomenon, caused widespread flight cancellations, including those to Boracay.
Despite the challenges, visitors expressed appreciation for Boracay’s improved facilities and natural beauty.
Dante Tangonan, a 76-year-old visitor from Isabela, said his visit was a dream come true, while Jennifer Campos, a Filipina living in Australia, brought her family to Boracay for the first time this year.
“My children saw vlogs about Boracay and wanted to experience it themselves. I was here in 2006 before I got married, and it’s wonderful to see how the government has maintained and improved the island,” Campos said. – Rappler.com