Fact Sheet

A vast clear blue sea, powdery white sand, and rays of yellow sunshine is the perfect combination that entice tourists to the world-renowned Boracay Island, notwithstanding the many other activities and services, such as snorkeling, island hopping, boat sailing, spa and massages resorts, and many more, which excite the adventurous spirit or tired soul. It’s no surprise, therefore, if this beach capital of the Philippines has never been failed by tourists for the last 10 years.

Statistics generated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office 6 shows that visitor head count and tourist receipts in million pesos have been consistently increasing for the last 10 years since year 2001. The highest increase in visitor arrivals is in 2004 with 26.3 percent (89,321) and in 2010 by 20.0 percent (130,107). Correspondingly, receipts increased by Php1.6 billion in 2004 and Php2.4 billion in 2010.

DOT statistics further shows that in terms of tourist population, Boracay is largely dominated by domestic tourists. In absolute terms, of the total visitor arrivals (779,666) in Boracay in 2010, 60.8 percent were domestic, 35.7 percent were foreign, and 3.47 percent were Overseas Filipinos (OFs). On the average, 2,136 visitors everyday or 64,972 visitors monthly come to Boracay island to soil their feet with powdery-white sand and/or plunge into crystal clear waters and/or roam around the entire island not only for the scene but also to get a feel of being there.

Nowadays, even OFs also include Boracay in their shopping list of places to visit when they come home to the Philippines either for leisure or shopping for investment. OFs arrivals in Boracay in 2010 increased by 10.7 percent, from its 24,415 level in 2009 it soared to 27,038 in 2010.

Top Ten Foreign Visitor Arrivals by Country of Residence: 2010

Interestingly, in 2010, Boracay visitors were highly dominated by Koreans (40%), Taiwanese (22%), and Chinese (16%). As in the past, for every 100 visitors, 41 percent are Korean nationals. Other foreign nationals which made Boracay their choice of leisure in 2010 come from: USA (6%); United Kingdom, Australia, and Hongkong (3% each); and Japan, Germany, and Canada (2% each).

Visitor Arrivals & Receipts, Boracay: 2001-2010

Year	Visitor Arrivals				% Change	Receipts (in Php)
Year	Foreign	Domestic	OFs	Total	% Change	Receipts (in Php)
2001	76,475	188,332	0	264,807	15.21	4,868,053,003.80
2002	77,892	221,600	1,300	300,792	13.59	5,529,579,652.60
2003	84,747	251,704	2,983	339,434	12.85	6,239,950,995.20
2004	121,023	291,279	16,453	428,755	26.31	7,881,974,666.20
2005	155,744	321,893	21,820	499,457	16.49	9,181,717,813.80
2006	183,427	340,602	30,152	554,181	10.96	10,187,730,995.40
2007	208,870	359,433	28,404	596,707	7.67	10,969,503,463.80
2008	197,376	404,807	32,080	634,263	6.29	11,659,910,434.20
2009	192,873	432,271	24,415	649,559	2.41	11,941,102,920.60
2010	278,531	474,097	27,038	779,666	20.03	14,332,911,944.40

Source: Department of Tourism

Revenue wise, in 2010, Boracay generated Php14.33 billion from 779,666 visitors. This translates to an average of Php 39.26 million per day. Compared to the previous year, tourist receipts grew by 20.03 percent, second highest rate of increase so far in the 10-year period from year 2001.

Visitor Arrivals by Month 2010: Boracay

High influx of visitors in Boracay was noted during the summertime. The peak season commences on March with 75,705 visitor arrivals (9.7%); April with 101,349 visitor arrivals (13.0%); and May with 87,251 visitor arrivals (11.2%). Estimated monthly receipts during this period was Php1.4 billion, Php1.9 billion, and 1.6 billion, respectively.

It is also interesting to note that the various tourist groups have their own preferred periods in coming to Boracay Island. In 2010, influx of domestic visitors was high in the months of April with 78,400 (16.5%); May with 64,390 (3.5%); March with 51,341 (10.8%); and June with 42,910 (9.1%).

For OFs visitors, however, December and January are the most meaningful months for them and their families to be in Boracay. OFW arrivals in the island comprised of 3,569 (13.2%) in December and 3,469 (12.8%) in January. It must be noted that January is “Ati-atihan” month in Aklan.

Foreign visitors, on the other hand, enjoyed being in Boracay during the months of August, February and July. Highest visitor arrivals of 28,841 (10.4%) was registered in August; 28,791 (10.3%) in February; and 24,862 (8.9%) in July.

Did you know that …

Visitor Arrivals & Receipts, Boracay: 2001-2010