Boracay

Boracay
Boracay Island white sand beach
Boracay is located in Visayas
Boracay
Boracay
Location of Boracay
Boracay is located in Philippines
Boracay
Boracay
Boracay (Philippines)
Geography
Coordinates11°58′8″N 121°55′26″E / 11.96889°N 121.92389°E / 11.96889; 121.92389
ArchipelagoVisayas
Adjacent to
Area10.32 km2 (3.98 sq mi)
Highest elevation302 ft (92 m)
Highest pointMount Luho
Administration
RegionWestern Visayas
ProvinceAklan
MunicipalityMalay
Barangays
  • Balabag
  • Manoc-Manoc
  • Yapak
Largest settlementManoc-Manoc (pop. 14,810)
Demographics
Population37,802 (2020)
Pop. density3,663/km2 (9487/sq mi)
Ethnic groups

Boracay ([bɔˈrakaɪ]; often locally shortened to Bora) is a resort island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, located 0.8 kilometers (0.50 mi) off the northwest coast of Panay Island. It has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers (3.98 sq mi), under the jurisdiction of three barangays in Malay, Aklan, and had a population of 37,802 in 2020.[2]

Boracay was originally inhabited by the Tumandok and Ati people, but commercial development has led to their severe marginalization since the 1970s.[1][3]

Boracay island from space

Apart from its white sand beaches, Boracay is also famous for being one of the world's top destinations for relaxation.[4][5] As of 2013, it was emerging among the top destinations for tranquility and nightlife.[6]

International travel magazine Travel + Leisure ranked Boracay as the Best Island in the World in 2012.[7][8] In 2014, the resort island was at the top of the "Best Islands in the World" list published by the international magazine Condé Nast Traveler.[9] In 2016, Boracay headed the magazine's list of "Top 10 destinations to watch".[10]

In April 2018, the Philippine government,under President Rodrigo Duterte, decreed a six-month closure of the island for tourists to undertake major renovation works, especially of the sewage system, which had become obsolete and insufficient.[11] The island was administered by the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force during the closure.[a] It reopened in October 2018, with a new set of rules meant to address a variety of issues.[14][15]

The Boracay Ati-atihan in January 2024 witnessed a record-breaking number of tourists, with 36,741 people participating in the event. This festival, which celebrates the cultural heritage of the Ati indigenous people, has been a major draw for tourists and is set to be elevated as a major tourism attraction for the island starting next year.[16]

  1. ^ a b Resabal, Cooper (October 27, 2018). "After cleanup, Atis in Boracay hope to reclaim land". VERA Files. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Municipality of Malay: Philippine Standard Geographic Code". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Angan, Joseph (June 21, 2013). "Beyond the beach: The untold story of Boracay's Ati tribe". GMA News Online. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Boracay is top place for relaxation: poll". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  5. ^ "Boracay beats Asian favourites to take crown as top destination". Good News Pilipinas. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "Relaxation, nightlife both more fun in Boracay". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "Boracay named 2012 worlds best island". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  8. ^ "BORACAY named 2012 No.1 World's Best Island". Boracay Beach Live. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  9. ^ "The Best Islands in the World". Conde Nast Traveler. October 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "TOP 10 DESTINATIONS TO WATCH IN 2016". Conde Nast Traveler. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  11. ^ "Philippines approves six-month closure of Boracay from April (VIDEO) - Malay Mail". www.themalaymailonline.com.
  12. ^ "Executive Order No. 115" (PDF). Office of the President of the Philippines. May 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "Boracay task force seeks one-year extension". Philippine News Agency. March 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "The new-Boracay opens with a whole new set of rules". thethaiger.com. October 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "PNP: ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR BORACAY REOPENING". League Online News. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  16. ^ G, Herbie (January 19, 2024). "Boracay Ati-atihan 2024 sees record-breaking number of tourists". RAPPLER. Retrieved February 14, 2024.


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