Boracay now a Muslim-friendly Cove Destination – DoT

BORACAY Island, Malay Aklan—The Department of Tourism (DoT) has officially declared this resort island a Muslim-friendly destination.

DoT Secretary Christina Frasco said Tuesday that Boracay became the first Muslim-friendly destination in the Philippines. Because of this, the DoT is confident that the Philippines will see more tourists coming from Muslim countries, especially from Brunei and Malaysia.

Frasco said the Philippines has been hailed in 2023 and for 2024 as an emerging Muslim-Friendly non-organization of IslandCooperations in the Mastercard-Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index. 

“The Muslim Friendly destination expressed our commitment to show our appreciation to the Muslim and their culture,” said Frasco. Frasco said the Newcoast Boracay has dedicated a beach cove along the Lapuslapus (known as Keyhole) at the Megaworld Property in Barangay Yapak, Boracay.

According to the DoT, some 270,000 Muslim tourists visited the Philippines from January to June this year. The journey of Boracay becoming a Muslim-friendly destination started in April this year during the Boracay Diplomatic and Business Forum. Attending diplomats in the said conference agreed to make Boracay a Muslim destination.

Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines, Datu Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino told the BINN in an interview that while the Philippines considered Boracay as a first Muslim-friendly destination.

“I believed this is the first Muslim-friendly beach destination in a Christian country. So this is historic,” he added.

For his part, Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista said that he has created the Boracay Halal Community Council in this resort island in cooperation with the Muslim community to further develop Boracay as a Muslim-friendly destination.

“Already, we have two Madrasah schools in Boracay dedicated for Muslim children who opted to stay here. The Muslims also had their own mosque,” he said.  

Police Lt. Colonel Mar Joseph Ravelo, the Malay Police chief said they had also activated the Salaam police to ensure peace on this resort island.