The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Boracay will soon open a designated beach for Muslim travelers to become a more inclusive travel destination.
The new retreat for Muslim women at Boracay Newcoast will be revealed on September 10, 2024. This is the northeastern part of the well-known island and is home to the Savoy, one of the Philippine hotels with Halal kitchen certification.
“Some Muslims can swim in public but other Muslims will prefer swimming in this (private area). And I’m sure those Muslims swimming in public if they have a choice, (would also prefer that) because at present they don’t have a choice,” said DOT Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar during the Philippine-Malaysia Art Expo opening in Makati City.
This proposal was made by foreign diplomats stationed in the Philippines, including the ambassadors from Malaysia and Brunei.
The DOT is working on making the Philippines more welcoming to Muslim visitors as part of its efforts to expand its tourism offerings, as outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan for 2023-2028.
Besides adding new destinations, the department is also planning to improve the training of frontline tourism staff by using educational modules about halal created by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
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