February 26, 2025 l Business Mirror
The provincial government of Aklan has partnered with Cebu-based Top Line Hi-Tech and Synergy Corp. to streamline the ticketing process and improve travel efficiency in the country’s beach capital, Boracay Island. The smart port system will be implemented starting April at the ports of Caticlan and Cagban in the municipality of Malay.
Aklan Governor Jose Enrique M. Miraflores and Top Line President and CEO Eugene Erik C. Lapasaran Lim signed the partnership agreement last February 18 at the provincial capitol in Kalibo. Through a unified automated ticketing system using QR codes that provide real-time data and analytics, Top Line’s travel app will enhance the tourism experience on one of the world’s best beaches in time for the coming summer season.
Currently, tourists have to queue multiple times in registering upon arrival and paying the boat fare as well as environmental, administrative, and terminal fees. Through the pre-booking link of Top Line’s game-changing app, these separate steps will be eliminated by consolidating them into a single automated transaction that allows travelers to book and pay in advance They also have an on-site option via an automated kiosk or ticket booth supporting cashless transactions. After making the payment, a QR code is generated for verification at the pre-boarding area.
Data from the Malay municipal tourism office showed that tourist arrivals in Boracay numbering 2.12 million in 2024 declined by 2.0 percent compared with 2.08 million recorded in 2023. The number of both domestic and foreign tourists decreased, notably those from East Asia and Southeast Asia. Lim disclosed that “with this smart upgrade, we aim to drive tourism growth in the Visayas and ensure that Boracay remains a premier destination for travelers.”
In another development last week, Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla gave Malay Mayor Frolibar S. Bautista a 2-week deadline to lower various fees for tourists or impose a moratorium on them. During a stakeholders’ meeting attended by Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco at the Philippine International Convention Center, Bautista wondered where the local government unit (LGU) would get its revenues if some of the fees and taxes are reduced, but Miraflores expressed willingness to cooperate with Remulla.
Stakeholders from the private and public sectors have persistently raised concerns about Boracay’s tourism-related fees that have driven visitors away from the island to other travel destinations. Frasco said “we are working towards a globally competitive and thriving tourism environment for Boracay by aligning national and local efforts.”
One of Boracay’s biggest investors is the Astoria Hotels and Resorts Group. Since 2010 when it opened Astoria Boracay followed by Astoria Current in 2015, AHR has spent around P2.5 billion in total investments over the past decade and a half on this island paradise.
Nestled in the quieter and more relaxed Station 1, Astoria Boracay features an expansive pool, a rejuvenating spa, and two function rooms for corporate or social events. Its dining outlets are White Café, offering local and international cuisines, and Solegiatto, which serves Italy’s finest dishes. In 2019, AHR invested P50 million for renovations in this 71-room boutique resort.
Astoria Current at Station 3 caters aesthetically to hip and trendy guests looking for an exciting beach getaway. It has more than 200 rooms with amenities that include two lap pools, a fitness center/spa, and three restaurants: Parasol, Citrine, and Stratos on the roof deck. Its two function halls can accommodate large corporate events, grand gala parties, and intimate celebrations.
When Boracay was shut down for six months in 2018, AHR was able to complete its P1.5 billion expansion of Astoria Current, which was one of the first resorts that the Department of Tourism allowed to reopen after it complied with all the environmental regulations and ordinances.
LGU officials expect an increase in tourist arrivals this year, especially with the rise of cruise tourism in Boracay–where 17 cruise ships are scheduled to visit in 2025 or almost double the year-ago figure. Miraflores has committed the support of Aklan’s provincial government and believes that “by embracing innovation, we endure a smooth and efficient journey for all our foreign and domestic visitors while fostering sustainable growth for the island’s tourism industry.”
With these forthcoming developments that will rationalize the entry rates and procedures for visitors, Boracay tourism is poised to reach its pre-pandemic level or even surpass it. The overall travel process will be hastened by these new measures and the island could then regain its status as the Philippines’ top tourist destination.
***The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX. For comments, email nextgenmedia@gmail.com. Photo is from Pinterest.