2018 Boracay closure and redevelopment and even the builders of photo-op sandcastles have been banned from the beachfront. All water sports, aside for swimming, are also forbidden for the time being. 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
Boracay "more Miami chic than hidden oasis." Leisure activities available on or near Boracay include horseback riding, scuba diving, diving helmet, snorkeling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, cliff diving, parasailing. Boracay is the site of an 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh. In addition, , Boracay has in excess of 350 beach resorts offering more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget accommodation. In addition, Boracay offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs. A landmark natural rock formation, Boracay's Rock, juts prominently directly in front of Willy's Beach Resort. According to the Department of Tourism