ILOILO CITY: Tourist arrivals to Boracay fell by more than 30 per cent in March compared with the same period last year, despite domestic travellers continuing to drive the island’s visitor numbers.
Latest data from the Department of Tourism showed that a total of 200,165 tourists visited the resort island from March 1 to 31, a sharp decline from the 291,418 recorded in March 2025—a 31.3-per cent year-on-year drop.
Domestic tourists dominated the arrivals at 164,922, over 82 per cent of the total. Foreign visitors numbered 32,925, while overseas Filipino travellers totalled 2,318.
The figures underscore Boracay’s continued reliance on local tourism, even as international arrivals remain relatively modest.
Officials have yet to release a detailed explanation for the decline, but it comes amid shifting travel patterns and broader economic pressures affecting both domestic and foreign tourism.
Boracay, one of the country’s premier beach destinations, has been promoting the island through campaigns and improved tourism services, particularly as the peak summer season unfolds. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
