The work-from-home setup was perhaps one of the very few welcome effects of the pandemic—a year and a half later, though, its charm has worn off. Fortunately for the city’s locked-down and vacation-deprived Filipinos, Boracay has already opened up its shores to accept more and more tourists.

Besides its pristine white beaches and friendly locals, Boracay has three new offerings that will surely upgrade the workation experience, all designed to address the needs of tourists in the new normal.

Boracay may already be one of the coolest office spaces to begin with, but the DOT’s Boracay Wellness Workation Program takes things further by marrying workation with relaxation.

The Wellness Workation program encourages tourists to work and relax at the same time under the golden rays of the sun amid the powdery white sand at Shangri-La, Boracay Island. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

This tourism package developed by the DOT aims to give tourists the ultimate workation experience—a new office space with a great view of the Island that will surely get anyone energized, and afterwards, a relaxing massage as a reward for a day’s work. This Wellness Workation package can also be experienced with the other tourism products that they are developing, like the Bike Tour and Food Crawl programs.

Remote office or school set-up with a background of sea, sky and the sun made possible in Discovery Shores, Boracay Island. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

For the adventurous at heart or those who simply want to go on a healthy morning, post-work, or weekend activity, the Bike Tour aims to showcase the scenic terrain of the island through two proposed bike circuits—a sightseeing tour circuit and an endurance biking circuit. The DOT advises tourists who want to avail of this program to coordinate with the Uni Sikad Boracay Association and BITATOA (Boracay Island Travel and Tour Operators Association) for bike rentals and repair shops in the Island.

The biking tour program lets tourists enjoy the beautiful scenery and beaches of Boracay. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

Get to experience the island’s gastronomic jewels uniquely through the Boracay Food Crawl Program, a tour program characterized by a de-constructed meal where tourists eat one part of the complete menu in each of the participating restaurants until they finish a complete meal.

“Nonies” is a Cavite-style chicken and Pork Adobo with Organic Black Rice and a soft boiled egg from one of the restaurants in Boracay. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

This program will showcase both the iconic food of Boracay and the international cuisines that are available in the island. It also introduces a new concept of dining that supports the restaurant industry in Boracay which has been gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the chefs of Paraiso Bar & Grill holding lobster and wine to showcase the iconic and international level of foods in Boracay. Photo courtesy of the Department of Tourism.

Boracay Island is now open to all domestic tourists from areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified GCQ. Tourists of all ages from NCR (Alert Level 1). Visitors would need to access an Online Health Declaration Form at http://aklan.gov.ph or http://touristboracay.com, apply for an SPass at https://s-pass.ph/, booking confirmation from a DOT-accredited hotel/resort, government-issued ID, and travel details.

Once most popularly known for its beach nightlife and beach side activities, Boracay has swiftly and smoothly adapted to the evolving needs of tourists in the new normal—making work-from-anywhere an adventure to be truly relished.

The DOT encourages travelers to check the official websites of the destinations they are planning to visit, as well as https://philippines.travel for the latest updates on open destinations, travel restrictions, and entry requirements and protocol.

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