Christmas crowds descend on Boracay’s white sands

It felt like summer all over again as the famed Boracay Island in Aklan province welcomed a large number of tourists this Christmas season.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, hotels and other accommodations on the island are nearly fully booked as visitors seek to enjoy the holidays on its popular white sand beaches.

The Philippine National Police has been placed on full alert amid the surge of tourists, with the Philippine Coast Guard, maritime police, and other personnel helping patrol beachfronts and public areas.

A cruise ship captain said their vessel will make two trips to Boracay this month, carrying a total of 1,000 tourists.

“When it comes to cruise ships, it’s what we can manage to do. When you decide places and countries to go, you look for a certain distance for the ship that you can do from, let’s say, the evening before until the morning,” said Christian Aalbers.

Data from the Municipality of Malay’s Tourism Office showed that over 1.8 million tourists visited the island this year, with the number expected to reach 2 million before year-end.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA Integrated News