The island paradise of Boracay reopens yesterday. With a heartwarming video, the crown jewel of the Philippines and flagship of sustainable tourism in the country welcomes back tourists wanting to get away.

https://www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfTourism/videos/1060417267746668

Here are some of the things you need to know before you book your flight to Boracay.

Who can travel to Boracay?

• Travellers who underwent RT-PCR and are negative for COVID-19 not earlier than 48 hours prior to travelling to Boracay are allowed to enter the island.
• Visitors from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas provided that they tested negative from COVID-19 thru RT-PCR.
• Age restriction has been relaxed to allow travellers below 21 and above 60 years old with no comorbidity to travel to Boracay.

What should I do BEFORE I travel?

Travellers are strongly advised to observe strict quarantine immediately after undergoing the test until their travel date to the island.

All tourists are required to register online at http://aklan.gov.ph and fill-up a health declaration form. A QR code will be sent after a successful registration. The QR code will be used for stringent contact tracing as hotels, food establishments, and water sports will have a QR scanning system.

To ensure safety and the quality of service, all travellers are required to pre-book in DOT-accredited hotels and resorts issued with a Certificate of Authority to Open. You can find the list of these accommodation establishments here.

Do I need travel authority from PNP, IATF to travel to Boracay?

No. “The negative RT-PCR test result will suffice,” says Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

What to do DURING my trip to Boracay?

Register before swimming – Go to designated beach stations and have your temperature checked before going into the water. You can swim in the marked areas between red and yellow flags from 6am to 6pm.

Required face mask and face shield on PUVs – Keep your safety gear on and observe proper physical distancing. Only a maximum of two (2) passengers on tricycles and a maximum of four (4) passengers on e-trikes are allowed.

Keep your tourist QR code at all times – Have a printed copy on hand or digital copy in your smartphone. The QR Code will be used in accessing services in Boracay Island.

What are the activities tourists can enjoy in Boracay?

Dining – Restaurants are open with minimum public health standards in place.

Swimming – Dipping and swimming are allowed in designated swimming areas from 6 AM – 6 PM.

Water sports – Different water sports such as parasailing, kitesurfing, jet-skiing, among others are allowed at reduced capacity.

At the time of this writing, international travel to the Philippines is still limited. Be sure to check with government updates before you book travel products.