Boracay as a luxury destination?

By: Gil Delos Santos

I’m not certain with the criteria, but I believe there’s basis and right reasons for the accolade.

On a luxury traveler’s perspective—who do not necessarily need to go through the hassle at jetty port entry nor ride a public transport, they would have a different view over the residents or anyone who’s too familiar with the island. As tourism ambassadors, we don’t need to share unfriendly information nor criticize our own Boracay. The call for unity only makes sense to me after I personally try to disregard what I internally know about Boracay and detach my local frustrations. We need maturity to be able to accept the fact that there are things which are beyond our individual control. The best thing that we can do is just work around to give our Boracay dignity it deserves. As a response to this new outlook, I have recently hopped to various luxury establishments carrying a tourist’s mindset.

It makes a difference!

I felt Boracay indeed deserved to be recognized as a luxury destination. The photos can tell.

Beach Parties in otherhand nor the SB’s Committee on Tourism have not contributed anything. It’s the private stakeholders individual effort to polish diverse tourism products to widen the island’s guests offerings. Though not perfect, we appreciate the Malay Municipal Tourism Office and the local decision makers for collaborating with the private stakeholders to accommodate new tourism product innovations. The launch of Marhaba Boracay as a Muslim-friendly destination is worth to commend. The Food Festival Bazaars have impacted. Mice Alliance’s formation was a great addition to Boracay’s tourism arsenal too.

In the past…at some point, I have criticized the LGU for allowing one hotel brand to establish a dominant presence in the accommodation sector—multiple properties with over a thousand and a half hotel rooms, along with similar others. But in all honesty, they are luxury providers. They have contributed to the materialization of the luxury destination award, not the un-luxurious beach parties.

In addition, Boracay is special in many ways not common to other islands: It is a luxury of option for the size of Boracay to have over 14,000 hotel rooms shared by over 400 DOT-Accredited accommodation establishments.

With the environmental fee, luxury travelers will never have a problem with it. Complains on fees only started after these Boracay influencers and vloggers popularized what’s the cheapest, what’s budget meal. We get what we attract. That’s law of attraction.

Let’s attract love to Boracay, that’s luxury.

Happy holidays everyone!!