Since the government mandated the temporary shutdown of Boracay on April 26, tourists around the world have missed the go-to vacation hotspot in the Philippines for its powdery white-sand beaches.
The country's other beautiful beaches have been filling the void, but Boracay fans have something to look forward to: the Department of Tourism has announced plans for a "soft opening" on October 26.
According to Department of Tourism (DOT) undersecretary Arturo Boncato, the planned reopening will be done in phases and without any major fanfare.
Out of Boracay's estimated 15,000 hotel and resort rooms, the target is to have at least 5,000 open by October 26.
The DOT will then gradually re-open the rest of the rooms on the island—this depends on the number of hotels and resorts that can comply with requirements for clearance from the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In a television interview with ABS-CBN News, DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat stated that Boracay will no longer be a "party place," and that the government agency is promoting sustainable tourism.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the PEP.ph editors.