Globalisation of Boracay

In a country (and particularly an island) which is often accused, at best, of being culturally "confused" and at worst of lacking any real culture entirely (a point which I would strongly contest) the question regularly arises: how much of the "original" Boracay - that which drew tourists here in the first place - should be preserved?

While the government appears to have decided to sacrifice the island for the sake of the tourist dollar (and many agree that if tourism has to wreck an island, better it be Boracay) others argue that the place is still a treasure in it's own right, even now, and plans need to be put in place to protect those parts of it which are still beautiful.

Environmental concerns aside - for that is a whole separate issue, and of no less importance - it is immediately obvious that there is a strong division between what Filipino tourists (the summer "Bora" party crowds, for example) want and expect, and what overseas (mostly non-Asian) tourists would like to see there.

Scanning through local travel forums, you'll encounter numerous postings from Filipinos who take great delight in the fact that you can now find chain 'restaurants" such as Andoks, Crazy Crepes, Mang Inasal and Goodah on the island. No doubt it would impress the average Pinoy vacationer even more should there be a Jollibee or even a McDonalds outlet there. For them, the globalisation of Boracay is a good thing, and is embraced wholeheartedly.

Yet foreign tourists are turning away in droves as a result of this neon-lit fast food revolution. For them, the point of flying long distance to a tropical island is to experience that which is unusual and different. Sadly, generic, uninspiring chain restaurants such as McDonalds and Andoks are dismally (or for some, reassuringly) similar wherever you go. While many would like to see Manila mall culture transplanted to the beach, is this really the way forward for Boracay?

Foreign tourists bring a significant revenue to the region. Most overseas visitors spread their money around profusely and wish to enjoy a variety of experiences, such as diving, watersports and high-class restaurants. These are not the people spotted eating cheap picnics on the beach (and leaving their trash behind them) or staying ten pax to one small room.

Should Boracay be accessible for domestic tourists? Of course it should, and hopefully this will remain the case in future years. There is still value-for-money accomodation to be found, along with decent privately owned restaurants such as Smoke, Blueberry and Mars, catering to both local and foreign budget travellers and backpackers. There's no weight behind the argument that fast food joints are a necessary evil for those who want reasonably priced food! Surely this type of local establishment should be encouraged, so that Boracay retains it's individuality and character - as opposed to becoming simply an annex of Manila.

The rampant over-development of the island is also helping to squash out those last few native-style businesses which previously dotted the White Beach. Again, while city socialites may find these old-fashioned or cheap looking, they are exactly what the majority of western visitors enjoy seeing in Boracay - and other similar destinations. Rustic cabanas and beach bars remind the long distance traveller that they are, in fact, on a tropical island in the Philippines. This breed of tourist is seeking to escape the city, and therefore finds such structures attractive, evocative and photogenic.

I have even heard Manila city slickers complain that the music at bars such as Bom Bom is too "folksy" - which is as amusing to me as someone who leaps into the sea and then complains that they are wet! The very point of such bars is to keep traditional Filipino music alive, and travellers flock there in the evenings to enjoy it, as opposed to the ubiquitous hip hop and rap being blasted out by many other establishments.

Returning to the original question, are the powers that be (in Boracay and beyond) content to stand back and allow the island to lose all vestiges of it's charm and beach culture? In encouraging an Ibiza-style atmosphere to flourish (especially those summer sponsored events which fill the island literally to bursting point and put an intolerable strain on resources such as water and electricity) they are scaring away the most lucrative section of the market, as well as causing irreparable damage to this lovely island.

Can those in charge of marketing and promoting Boracay not see that "progress" (the usual excuse for this sloppy, seemingly un-coordinated development) has the potential to take many different directions, and that given the right amount of planning, can be channeled in a more positive way? Can the local authorities take Boracay into the future without losing all vestiges of the magic which attracted tourists to it's beautiful shores in the first place?

Foreigners travel to Boracay in search of the different, while Filipino tourists prefer to see the familiar (albeit adorned with a sprinkling of sand). Is it possible to have both at once, I wonder? Only time will tell.

Published: www.boracayspot.com