While tourism arrival numbers are still increasing, Boracays infrastructure is struggling, inadequate and partially in shambles. For Tourism on a scale Boracay is experiencing, an adequate and well planned infrastructure is a must to ensure smooth operations and future growth.

Boracay-June/July 2007. Boracays Infrastructure needs most urgently short term improvements and urgent planning of permanent solutions. This must happen on all levels and in cooperation with all sectors, be it business or government. We have proven that it is possible on Boracay to tackle successfully the garbage problem, if all sectors pull together and exert a little effort. Unfortunately, we got stuck again with lack of sustainability. If we cannot come up with solutions fast, our tourism will simply choke, environment breaking down completely, and turning away the high and medium end segment of tourism.

A good example was the sudden wish of the provincial government and the PNP to implement a ‘one entry – one exit habagat policy’. In fact, we should be grateful to the provincial government for that move: It made all business sectors on the island work and discuss together and to come up with a temporary solution for this year. Since many years everybody doing business or trying to manage the island knows, that sea and land transportation is an issue which must be tackled sooner or later, to ensure growth. But no action followed, the topic was not even discussed further. Hopefully this will be a wake up call for the business sector, particularly the transport segment to finally not only agree, but also to come up with ideas and action on their side.

Boracays transport systems are basically the same as in the 1980’s – only the quantity has increased, but not the quality and there’s still no fixed schedule and a 24-hour public service. And Boracays transport systems not only have to move hundreds of thousands of people, but also thousands of tons of various cargoes to the island.

Last but not least: The municipality of Malay has no natural harbor – rather open coastlines exposed to the forces of nature. To create a 24-hours, all weather sea transport system needs big investments. And more important it needs the cooperation and working together of all sectors, above political alliances, personal disliking and hidden agendas. Boracays infrastructural problems cannot be solved by the local government, or by the provincial government or the business sector alone. It is a simple business matter: If all departments of the corporation cannot work together, are blaming each other and even mistrust each other – you either get the company going – or go bankrupt.