Boracay to open hyperbaric chamber soon

The local government of Malay, Aklan is hoping that a hyperbaric chamber center being planned to be established on the famed Boracay Island will draw more tourists. 

A hyperbaric chamber is used to treat divers with decompression sickness after resurfacing too quickly above the water. 

Aside from divers, Aklan is also hoping that the hyperbaric chamber will attract "older tourists." 

"This will help us for the promotion of tourism, madagdagan pa, na ‘yong target namin dito, not only the divers but including itong 60 above na mga citizens natin, not only in the Philippines but in the whole world,” said Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista on Tuesday.

(I hope this will help us in the promotion of tourism. Aside from divers, I hope we can attract more tourists, including those who are 60 and older, not just here but also from abroad.) 

“It really helps a lot [for] the island kasi, wala talaga kami ditong other industry except tourism," added Bautista. 

(It really helps a lot for the island because we don’t have other industries here except tourism.)

Meanwhile, Aklan Provincial Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores is hoping that the hyperbaric chamber facility will also attract more foreign tourists.

“And our hopes also is to promote Boracay, especially to the international tourists. Kasi sa figures po natin (Because based on our figures), 80% of the tourists coming here are still local tourists,” he said.

The Department of Tourism earlier announced its plan to establish hyperbaric chambers through its infrastructure arm Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) in five key tourist destinations. 

Aside from Boracay, hyperbaric chambers are also expected soon in Camiguin, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro. 

This will be in addition to the 15 existing chambers nationwide. 

“‘Yung suporta na binibigay natin sa turismo, it’s also not enough to just say that we will continue to promote the island, we have to improve the developmental pillars of the island to succeed not just in the short term, but also in the long term,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco during her official visit to the island.

The DOT previously reported that over 2 million foreigners visited the country as of April. 

South Koreans remain the top international visitors to the country, with 546,726 arrivals. 

The country is targeting 7.7 million visitors this year. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/ VAL, GMA Integrated News