Boracay aims for 1.5 M tourist target: gov't

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government of Aklan, to which the world- renowned resort Boracay Island belongs, expresses its confidence of reaching the target of attracting 1.5 million tourists in 2013.

Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo, Vice Governor of Aklan, said that based on the latest data of the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office, as of April 8, foreign and local tourists coming to Boracay had reached 357,000.

Tourists analysts earlier perceived that to reach the target, Boracay must receive at least 350,000 tourists every quarter.

"In 2012 where the province anticipates 1 million tourists, we have registered 1.2 million tourists instead," Quimpo said, showing that he was confident of fulfill the 1.5 million tourists target this year.

Because of this unprecedented development, the Aklan provincial government is rushing to build the needed tourism infrastructure for Boracay, he added.