If you missed getting a tan by lying on white sands — on actual, natural white sands — then you’d want to tune in for this one: starting next month, Boracay is finally opening its doors to tourists again!
But don’t cram your bags with bikinis and trunks just yet. The decision, which was approved and seconded in a meeting by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), the tourism ministry, and Aklan Governor Joeben Milaflores, came with a huge prerequisite: a “Test Before Travel” regulation.
What this means is that travelers entering Boracay Island must present a negative result of their reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab test 48 to 72 hours prior to their entry. They are also required to undergo strict quarantine immediately after a test and until the time of travel to the island.
Also, travelers aged below 21 and above 60 years old can still visit Boracay as long as they have no co-morbidity or pre-existing health conditions that COVID-19 symptoms may aggravate.
In addition, the local government will only be allowing tourists coming from GCQ areas, as areas with stricter community quarantines are still prohibited from taking leisure travels.
Lastly, you should be able to present your paid booking to any government-accredited tourist hotel in the island. This means you have to have an itinerary first!
Still, this is good news for anyone who’s been bored stiff at home and cannot wait to bask under the sun. Don’t forget, though, that face masks and physical distancing will still be implemented in public areas.
