Boracay hotels near pre-pandemic revenue

A luxurious hotel on the pristine island of Boracay is reporting higher-than-expected revenue, continuing a pointed growth in the tourism sector since the start of the year.

"Tourists are starting to arrive in this recovery stage. I am glad to inform you that our weekly arrivals are currently at 2,000 or in the pre-pandemic. It's positive since we don't have an international market right now, and it's all local, and records are now hitting the 2019 figures. We only have a minimal number of foreign guests because the traditional markets here in Boracay are Chinese and Korean. But since Chinese tourists are still barred from traveling due to a surge of cases in their country, we don't have the biggest bulk of foreign arrivals, which is Chinese," said Cecille May Kimpo, the director of Sales and Marketing of Crimson Hotel Boracay and Spa.

The easing of the strict mobility restrictions led to a boom in tourism demand after more than two years of Covid-19 curbs, allowing the hospitality space to increase revenues to pre-pandemic levels.
According to Kimpo, the government's travel restrictions saw Crimson's occupancy rate drop by 50 percent.

"It dropped drastically because aside from foreign tourists, our main market is the National Capital Region because you don't get local business here since Boracay is an island. It had a domino effect on our revenue," Kimpo added.

Also, she said the decision of then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to shut down the island in 2018 affected their sales as most establishments temporarily closed shop.

"Let's say you have P30 million a month. Then you don't have P30 million (a month) because we are forced to comply with government regulations. Otherwise, you will be called out by the government and face sanctions. So, when that happened and later lifted after six months, then came Covid in March 2020. Our industry was hit for six months in 2018 and 2 years of Covid that started in March 2020. We just started bouncing back in 2021," she said.

The recommendation to temporarily close Boracay from tourists for six months — starting 16 April October 2018 — came from the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The Departments of Tourism and the Environment and Natural Resources had also called for a "total" closure.

Duterte announced it in a speech in Davao City because the island destination had become a "cesspool."

"That decision is something good for the island. Roads are wider, and the island is now more sustainable because of the eradication of the old tricycle style, as electric bikes are used here. And look at the water now, and it's so clean," Kimpo said.

Contented with regulations

Although there are still regulations in health protocols being imposed by the Local Government of Malay, Kimpo maintained that they are more than willing to heed them.

"Whatever is happening now in terms of LGU regulations, we are pleased. Before, you could not enter Boracay sans RT-PCR test. We fully understand that for the protection of citizens and our employees because some don't have their vaccines yet from 2020 to 2021. Whatever restrictions they have rolled out for the last two years, it was all good for the island," she emphasized.

Boracay has more than 400 hotels, and Kimpo said all these hotels now followed the installation of sewerage treatment plants, particularly those on the beachfront.

Boracay stakeholders had said that closing the island for a year would take away the jobs of 36,000 people and would mean revenue losses of P56 billion.

However, the National Economic and Development Authority said a 6-month closure of the tourist area would have minimal impact on the economy.

Situated in Station Zero, Crimson Hotel and Spa opened its doors in March 2018.

It's just a 15-minute away speedboat ride from the Caticlan Jetty Port. It boasts a private and undisturbed white sand beach and mystic clear waters.

Secluded and pristine, it evokes memories of the enchanting Boracay that guests love and long for.

Currently, Crimson has 192 rooms with a mix of Villas, Suites and Deluxe accommodations.