In April 2018, the Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte announced the closure of the nation’s much-visited destination, Boracay Island, calling it a ‘cesspool’. Contaminated by both pollution from its visitors and the mismanagement of waste on the island, Boracay’s once-white beaches and surrounding turquoise waters were visibly worse for wear.

But, following six months spent restoring the tropical environment back to its former glory, Boracay Island will reopen on October 26. Now, however, there are  strict new rules set in place for its visitors, which are focussed on improving the sustainability of its beaches.

So, how can we learn from past mistakes and ensure Boracay can be preserved for and enjoyed by future generations in its current state? Well, for one thing, tourists have been banned from smoking and drinking on its beaches, in a bid to lessen the litter left on its white sand. And, the number of tourists will be cut down to reduce overcrowding, which puts extra strain on the environment.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat says Boracay will no longer accommodate the huge number of tourists who frequently visit the island for its ‘Laboracay’ parties.

“No more ‘Laboracay’ parties. Why? Because, first we have a carrying capacity, and with ‘Laboracay’ we have about 60,000 to 70,000 tourists in three days. Definitely, Boracay island cannot accommodate that number of people,” she says.

Undersecretary for Tourism Development Benito Bengzon Jr. insists travellers can rest assured that care is being taken by accommodation providers on the island, too. There’ll now be all-new sustainability requirements in place, in order for hotels and resorts to gain the Department of Tourism’s accreditation to function on the island.