Roxas: Boracay, Palawan tourism back to business

MANILA, Philippines - Tourism business in Palawan and Boracay are starting to normalize weeks after typhoon Yolanda struck the two popular tourist destinations in the country, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said on Tuesday.

"I admire the resiliency of people from Palawan and Boracay and their perseverance to bring back their communities to normalcy. I am really happy for the speedy recovery of tourism in the provinces. Definitely, the tourism industry in Palawan and Boracay is back in business," said Roxas, who is also the vice-chair for disaster preparedness at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Roxas, along with Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmon met with local executives in Palawan and Aklan to check the relief operations and rehabilitation efforts in the areas.

“The leading resort hot spots in the country have largely escaped the brunt of Yolanda. We have met with tourism stakeholders, and concerned government officials in Palawan and Boracay who have informed us that they are back in business despite some minor hitches,” Roxas said.

He added that the government is committed to supporting the local tourism industry in the areas affected by the typhoon.

“With the peak travel season just weeks away, hotel operators in Palawan and Boracay must hasten the repairs of damaged structures so we can entice both local and foreign tourists to visit their places during the Holiday season,” Roxas said.

Palawan is home to two World Heritage Sites: the Puerto Princesa Underground River and the Tubbataha Reef while Boracay Island in Aklan is a top tourist destination in the world due to its white sand beaches.