asia pacifi c regions
Surviving troubled waters
Philippines holiday hotspot Boracay closed for six months to reverse damage in part caused by tourism. Peter Ellegard looks at conservation eff orts and prospects for the destination as a whole
I
t is portrayed as a tropical paradise in holiday brochures and is the Philippines’ top tourism hotspot, but Boracay hit the news for all the wrong reasons earlier this year. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte described the island as a ‘cesspool’ because raw sewage was being illegally drained from homes and businesses onto its famous White Beach. The government ordered its closure to tourists for six months from late April to undertake a comprehensive environmental rehabilitation programme. Boracay’s problems went deeper than sewage. Many properties had been unlawfully built on the island’s protected wetlands, polluting the water. Others had encroached onto traffi c-choked roads. The response of the task force formed
by three government departments has certainly been robust. Radar was used to hunt down illegal sewers. More than 40 were discovered in the White Beach area alone and destroyed by soldiers. Houses in illegal wetlands settlements are being demolished and inhabitants resettled on the main island of Luzon. Roads are also being widened and extended, with goods vehicles routed away from the main coastal road. There have also been beach clean-ups by the military and volunteers.
Meanwhile, all tourism businesses have had their environmental compliance certifi cates suspended pending a review. As remedial work continues, Boracay is on course to reopen to tourists as planned on October 26. Beyond that, Department of Environment and Natural Resources satellite offi ces will open on Boracay and in other key
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tourist areas to ensure environmental controls are properly policed. The 600-room
Fairways and Bluewater resort, the island’s largest hotel, was the fi rst on Boracay to have its own sewage treatment plant and this has allowed its golf course to be self- sustaining. The hotel has been using the closure to carry out renovations. It has had to cancel bookings but says clients understood and many opted to rebook for later.
Positive signs The full eff ect of the Boracay closure on
tourism won’t be seen for some time. However, early indications show that it has held up remarkably well, given that the island’s visitor numbers reached two million for the fi rst time in 2017 – half of those international – out of a total 6.6 million overseas visitors to the country as a whole.
Siargao is among
lesser-explored destinations featured by Intrepid Travel
Reef protection
The Philippine government’s Department for Environment & Natural Resources maintains a nationwide reef-monitoring programme, but has limited resources. Its eff orts are being supplemented by organisations such as France-based People and the Sea, which works alongside the local community on the tiny island of Malapascua. Volunteers run excursions to educate locals about the marine environment, teach some of them diving to help with collecting underwater data, support sustainable fi shing and identify alternative sources of income. UK tour operator Responsible Travel off ers marine conservation holidays to the island for clients to help with the project.
autumn 2018 wtm insights 65
Palawan, named Best Island in the World three years in a row
© Justin Aide
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