Four months ago, Boracay—voted the world's best island by our readers in 2017—closed to visitors after the 6,400 tourists it was attracting daily became too much to handle. There was environmental damage, illegal construction, and "insufficient waste management," as previously reported by Traveler. As a result, the Philippines shuttered the island for six months so it could heal. Earlier today, the Philippines Department of Tourism confirmed that the island will reopen this fall, saying, "a better and more sustainable Boracay is set to welcome back visitors on October 26." But before you book those last-minute tickets, listen up—the "new" Boracay probably won't be what you expect.
“October is only a soft opening… how can you rehabilitate an island under a state of calamity in only six months?,” Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, secretary of the department of tourism, told The Philippine Daily Inquirer, a Philippines-based newspaper. “We are managing expectations. It will be open but don’t expect all the roads to be completed.” Five thousand hotel rooms will be ready by October 26, according to Romulo-Puyat, but overall, Boracay isn't expected to fully be rehabilitated until the end of 2019.
Besides the physical changes, Boracay is cleaning up its act too, Romulo-Puyat said. The "no drinking or smoking" rule for white beaches will be more strictly enforced, and no casinos will be allowed on the island, despite earlier reports. In fact, party culture as a whole seems to be off the table—the famous "Laboracay" Labor Day weekend celebrations that drew 60,000 to 70,000 visitors to the island each year won't fly anymore, per the Philippine Daily Inquirer. There's no word yet on how many people will actually be allowed on the island total, though flights in and out will be limited, at the department of tourism's request.
In the meantime, there are plenty of other places to visit in the Philippines. The tear-drop island of Siargao should be your next stop if you've hit all the usual surf spots, since it's got more than 15 separate surf breaks. The Calamian Islands are definitely worth the trip, too—with over 100 islands to choose from, you'll be able to enjoy the beach in peace.
