Boracay attracted record 1.36 million despite 'Yolanda'

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines (Xinhua) -- The provincial government of Aklan said Thursday that 1.36 million tourists visited Boracay's beaches in 2013.

Aklan jetty port administrator Niven Maquirang said tourist arrivals last year were the highest. Compared to tourist arrivals in 2012 pegged at 1.2 million, the number of visitors in Boracay rose by 13.33 percent in 2013.

Maquirang said the Chinese and Koreans led foreign tourists who visited this island.

He said, however, that tourist arrivals last year fell short of the local government's 2013 target of 1.5 million.

"The onslaught of typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) is the primary reason why we failed to achieve our target. Several foreign and local tourists cancelled their reservations because of the typhoon," said Maquirang.

For 2014, he said the local government is targeting tourist arrivals of 1.5 million.

The Aklan provincial government said it expects the arrival of at least 10 international cruise ships to boost tourism in this resort island this year.

The Philippine Department of Tourism is promoting Boracay as a "haven for cruise ship destination."