Why Tourists Are Skipping Boracay—and What We Must Do About It

By: Guillermo Sumbiling

Boracay. The name alone should spark pride—it’s one of the most beautiful islands on Earth. But here’s the painful truth: more and more foreign tourists, including our neighbors from Taiwan, are choosing Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia over our very own paradise.

Why? Because visiting Boracay costs more and delivers less.

Boracay vs. The Rest of Southeast Asia

Let’s compare a simple 3-day vacation from Taiwan—a major source of tourists:
• ✈️ Flight + 3-day stay in Boracay: $500–$900
• ✈️ Da Nang, Vietnam: $230–$440
• ✈️ Penang, Malaysia: $330–$660
• ✈️ Phuket, Thailand: $350–$750

That’s right. A trip to Boracay costs almost double what it takes to enjoy a beach vacation in Vietnam—and all with fewer flight options, higher hotel rates, and more hidden fees.

Why Boracay Is Losing the Fight
1. Too Expensive, Too Complicated
To get to Boracay, you need a flight to Manila or Cebu, another flight to Caticlan, a van ride, a ferry, then a tricycle. Each step adds cost and stress. Meanwhile, places like Phuket and Da Nang offer direct flights or easy connections.
2. The Hidden Charges Are Everywhere
Tourists are shocked by the ₱300 environmental fee, ₱150 port fee, hotel taxes, and VAT on everything. A simple vacation turns into a wallet-draining experience.
3. Island Costs Are Out of Control
Why is a bottle of beer in Boracay ₱150—but only ₱80 in Vietnam? It’s because resorts in Boracay pay Asia’s highest electricity prices, ship in everything, and pass the burden on to guests.
4. Other Countries Make It Easy to Visit
Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand subsidize their airlines, promote regional airports, and welcome mass tourism with open arms and cheap packages. They want visitors. We make them work for it.

Boracay Is Not Failing. We Are.

Let’s be clear: Boracay isn’t the problem. The island is as beautiful as ever. The sunsets still amaze. The beaches still stun. But we’re pricing it out of reach, not just for foreigners, but for our own people.

We’ve made paradise into a gated community—for the few who can afford it—while Vietnam turns its beaches into places of joy for the many.

What Needs to Change—Now

If we want Boracay to thrive again—truly thrive—we must:
1. Create direct international flights to Caticlan from Taiwan, Korea, and China.
2. Cut taxes and island fees that punish tourists instead of welcoming them.
3. Support resorts with clean energy, better ports, and lower utility costs so they don’t have to overcharge.
4. Treat tourism as infrastructure, not a cash cow. The moment we stop squeezing visitors, they’ll start coming back.

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The Bottom Line

Boracay should be a source of pride—not a punchline in travel blogs. When Taiwanese tourists say, “It’s cheaper to fly to Vietnam than to Boracay,” something is deeply wrong.

We must stop blaming tourists for leaving—and start fixing why they left.

Let’s bring the world back to Boracay. Let’s make it a destination that’s affordable, accessible, and unforgettable—not just for the rich, not just for influencers, but for everyone.

Because no one should have to fly past paradise to find it.