2018 Boracay closure and redevelopment 2018 Boracay closure and redevelopment The closure of the Philippine resort island of Boracay, one of the nation's major tourist destinations, was set for six months starting April 26, 2018 as part of the government's efforts at the island's environmental rehabilitation. As part of the closure, Boracay would be closed except to registered island residents and employees of its business establishments. In a business forum held in February 9, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte called the island of Boracay a "cesspool" and announced plans to close the island to tourists and conduct a rehabilitation on the island in June 2018 to
2018 Boracay closure and redevelopment over Boracay. The officials were alleged to have been lax in issuing building permits and to have failed to sufficiently tackle illegal development activities on the island. About 400 hotels and restaurants were ordered to close for violating local environmental laws, while 3 casinos have been permanently shut down. Establishments built within the 30-meter shoreline easement were also demolished. The government projected that there will be about loss of potential gross receipts as a result of the six months closure of Boracay. Tourist stakeholders in the island project a loss of as they estimate that 700,000 bookings by foreign tourists