Just came from a trip to Boracay, 15 years after my last one. In general, while much more build up and with many more visitors, it is better organized and has made some strides toward environmental conservation and user-friendly tourism.

There must be close to a dozen flights daily to Boracay from Manila plus a good number from Cebu to Boracay. And now there are flights from Clark to Boracay. So, the airport in Caticlan which was virtually a grass strip in 1992 is a very busy one with an adequate concrete runway for light and medium-size planes. The terminal building needs expansion, though. Transfers are effected with ground staff directing passengers to transportation toward the docks for the banca ride to Boracay Island. A charge of P70 as an environmental fee is paid by each tourist. The process is smooth and friendly. Boracay people are in general friendly and accommodating.

Banca and tricycle rides have regulated fees which everyone knows and follows. There are price lists agreed to by service operators shown to tourists by official copies. The information on fees prevents disputes. The road parallel to the beach through which all tricycles and delivery trucks travel is paved from one end of the island until the other, easily about 10 kilometers.

The long Boracay beach itself has been cleaned up of illegal structures making for open beach along the sea where people walk, lounge, play football or swim. The water is a transparent aquamarine shade that seems to have been rid of algae growth or grass and mud. After about 10 to 15 meter width, the beach has a high bamboo screen that stands during Habagat, when the wind blows from the northeast and brings with it flying sand that can settle on everything, causing much inconvenience. During the Amihan, the bamboo screen is said to be brought down because the southwest wind does not bring up the sand. The bamboo screen is simple but its length is impressive, all along kilometers of the beach.

From the beach at regular intervals there are straight wide pedestrian alleys that lead to the road that runs parallel to the beach. Tricycles can only go as far as the road after which, if one has luggage, one needs to get a soundless, motorless bicycle contraption to the hotel.

There is a range of hotels from five-star establishments to boutique hotels to medium-priced inns and more Spartan accommodations. Any budget can fit in. So, with the restaurants, the massages, the hair-braiding. Prices are clearly marked and announced. There is no need to haggle. If one needs a lower price, one can find one and not have to go through a haggling process.

Boats and bancas cannot park on the beach. They must load and unload only at designated areas. And one pays the boat ride fee at a central office that gives a receipt to both the passenger and the boat operator.

A well-setup police station is along one of the alleys just off the beach. When a drunk was becoming rowdy one night, the police were called and responded immediately. Without much trouble but with swiftness and efficiency, he was bundled off to sleep it off in jail probably.

The flies in the ointment of Boracay are the itinerant vendors of trinkets who accost tourists walking the beach. They should be put in a specified place where those interested in buying their wares can find them. Also, the Manila Domestic Airport turmoil always results in late flights, an average of an hour and a half late, which then stacks up delays coming back.

Talking to restaurant owners and innkeepers, they mentioned that there are water shortages and power interruptions during the high season when tourists are at their highest population levels. Boracay’s carrying capacity should be designated and the facilities made to service the load.

I am sure there is a lot of room for improvement in Boracay but I can say that they have taken the road toward it and have traveled an impressive length.

Source :- manilatimes