No more parties (or unregulated sandcastles) for Boracay

Philippines’ famous Boracay island is once more open for business, but those in search of wild beach parties are in for a letdown.

In addition to tourism numbers being strictly limited for the next 12 months — scaled down to 6,000 from the 19,000 the island had previously been able to accommodate — there’s a host of new by-laws, some of which might leave visitors wondering if the government has taken all the fun out of holidays

The island reopened last Friday, six months after closing for a cleanup operation to reverse the fortunes of a destination once labeled a "cesspool" by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

First arrivals landing on the newly pristine beach made their way to a number of hotels that, following upgrades to their sewage, have been approved by the government, which is laying down the law in an attempt to keep the island paradise clean.

Boracay’s new dos and don’ts (mostly don’ts) according to CNN:

DOS

• Do show your government-approved hotel reservation when arriving. Travelers need to have booked with an accredited hotel that’s had its sewage system signed off by the government.
• Do observe the correct zones for watersports. Powered watercraft like jetskis are now banished to a zone at least 100 meters offshore.
• Do get around by e-jeepney. The iconic Philippines’ public transport has had a green upgrade, and rides are free until December.

DON’TS

• Don’t party on the beach. Beachside drinking (and the trash it creates) is now banned.
• Don’t bring an umbrella, beach bed or deckchair to the sand. They’re all contraband now.
• Don’t bring pets onto the beach. Sorry pooch, no frolicking in the water for you.
• Don’t litter. Police will be handing out hefty penalties to offenders.
• Don’t BBQ on the sand. Grilled meats, including the iconic Philippines ihaw-ihaw skewers, are out.
• Don’t have a firework display after 9 p.m. Pyrotechnic displays are now under strict curfew.
• Don’t use single-use plastics. Plastic cups, cotton buds and the humble plastic straw, pariah of the environment, are now banned.
• Don’t gamble. You’d find it hard to anyway, as casinos have been banned from operating on the island.
• Don’t build an unregulated sandcastle. All sand-based seaside structures are subject to official approval.
• Don’t vomit in public places. Keep it classy (and to yourself), people.

Earlier this month the island, one of the world’s most famous beach destinations, had reopened for a limited-numbers test run.Its famous white-sand beaches were signed off in August as "very clean" and safe for swimming, according to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu

While the cleanup has left the beaches immaculate and the waters crystal clear, significant work needs to be done to get the road system up to speed before larger numbers of tourists are allowed back on the island.

At the "soft opening" earlier in October, a panel made up of the four secretaries who comprise the inter-agency task force responsible for the cleanup said that the full rehabilitation could take up to two years.

Valere Tjolle