In a move to cater to a wider range of travelers, Boracay is set to unveil a private beach area specifically designed for Muslim women.
The private beach area, which is scheduled to launch on September 10, is part of the island’s ongoing efforts to become a more inclusive tourism destination.
Located within the Boracay Newcoast development, the private cove aims to address the needs of Muslim visitors who may prefer a more secluded swimming area. “While some Muslim women may choose to swim in public, others may feel more comfortable in a private space,” explained Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, the DOT Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs.
The idea for the Muslim-friendly beach came from a suggestion by foreign diplomats, including the ambassadors of Malaysia and Brunei, who expressed the need for such a facility.
“They (previously) had a meeting in Boracay and they mentioned to the mayor na sana merong private area sa Boracay (that hopefully there could be a private area for Muslims in Boracay),” she said.
“When we opened the idea to the mayor of Aklan, he said he will find an area and it’s a good timing because Megaworld has a coast area doon na pwedeng gawing private cove for Muslim women (there that we can turn as a private cove for Muslim women).”
The Boracay Newcoast is in the northeastern portion of the world-famed island and also houses the Savoy, one of the Philippine hotels that recently secured a Halal kitchen certification.
“President Bongbong Marcos mentioned during the State of the Nation Address about halal and Islamic tradition, so we’re pushing for that and the Secretary as well is also pushing for more Halal offerings that we can do in the Philippines,” Valderrosa-Abubakar said.
Science-based training on tourism
Making the Philippines Muslim-friendly is among the current thrusts of the DOT to diversify its tourism products based on the National Tourism Development Plan for 2023-2028.
In addition to expanding destinations, the DOT also laid plans to improve the training of frontline tourism workers through the halal modules developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
“[W]ith the introduction of this training module developed by the DOST, we see great benefit upon our accommodation enterprises and other tourism enterprises so that we can transform the Philippines into one of the most competitive Halal and Muslim-friendly destinations,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said.
“Through our partnership with the DOST, we will leverage Science, Technology, and innovation to enhance the Philippine tourism experience,” she said.
Attracting Muslim travelers
The Philippines has been recognized as an Emerging Muslim-Friendly Destination (non-OIC country) by Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index for two consecutive years.
This September, the DOT will launch the “Muslim-Friendly Boracay,” an initiative in partnership with the local government of Malay, Aklan.
The municipality, the DOT said, would also redesign the island’s port to include a prayer room and ablution area for Muslims.
Boracay establishments with Muslim-friendly facilities
The DOT is currently accepting letters of intent from Boracay accommodation establishments to be recognized as Muslim-friendly stays.
The DOT said it hopes that one of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts’ stays on the island could soon add a Halal-certified kitchen after its recent deal with the DOT to make its properties “Muslim-friendly.” Boracay’s Newcoast, a 150-hectare mixed-use leisure and resort development, is one of Megaworld’s townships in the country and houses hotels, such as the Belmont and the Savoy.
Boracay: Islands paradise in the Philippines
Sun and beach for the longest time has been Boracay Island’s crowd-puller that thousands of locals and foreigners are willing to travel just to experience its unmatched combination of fine white sands and calm waters.
The DOT is ramping up efforts to “further elevate Boracay’s status on the world stage” and position it as a good alternative dive destination in the Philippines.
To support this goal, the DOT formally broke ground for the soon-to-rise Hyperbaric Chamber Center in Boracay Island.
In his message, Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista thanked the DOT for putting the island in its dive destinations map and emphasized the support this hyperbaric chamber center would provide to Boracay visitors.
Boracay focuses on safety and comfort
DOT Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco, for her part, said this initiative highlights the importance the government puts on the safety and comfort of tourists.
“[I]t’s also not enough to just say that we will continue to promote the island, we have to improve the developmental pillars of the island,” she said.
“The provision of safety measures for our tourists is a basic need, and therefore, it has to be addressed,” she added.
Boracay was among the five key destinations earlier identified for DOT’s hyperbaric chamber project to add to the 15 existing hyperbaric chambers across the country. Other locations where the DOT and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) will soon construct hyperbaric chambers include Camiguin, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.
Source: PNA. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1225249
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