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Should I still come visit Boracay and the Philippines?

11/12/2013

21 Comments

 
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In the wake of typhoon Haiyan (called Yolanda here in the Philippines) and the humanitarian disaster in places like Leyte and Tacloban, I’ve received correspondence from people all over the world with questions.  First off, they all offer their sympathies and support, and I’m genuinely thankful for that.  But the questions sometimes steer to the practical, like this:

“I have a vacation booked to Boracay in the Philippines, and I’m supposed to arrive this week.  Considering what has happened there with the typhoon, should I still come?  Maybe I should cancel - I feel bad about enjoying my vacation with so many people dead or suffering.”

It’s a great question, and one I would ask, too, considering booking airfare, hotels, etc. can cost thousands of dollars, which would never be refunded if they cancelled. 
   
Here is how I answer them:

I appreciate the sentiment, but the reality is this: you NOT coming on your vacation isn’t going to help anyone here in the Philippines.  In fact, a tourism pullback can only damage local economies, especially as we’re going into the “high” season when so many families are counting on the tourism industry.  Hayden Fernando, President of the Boracay Tourism Association, says that up to 70% of the island’s residents make their living directly from tourism dollars.

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I say, come celebrate life.  Pay respects by coming and meeting the beautiful people of the Philippines and share a warm smile or a laugh with them.  They’re welcoming you into their homes – onto their island, and in their country, so come enjoy your vacation.  Get a tan, lounge on the perfect white sands of Boracay (which are still perfect) and have a couple too many cocktails while you dance the night away to the island’s live reggae music.

And when you leave, make a donation to a relief organization, like DirectRelief.org, or others who are doing great work to help the victims of the typhoon. 
Give as much as you can – that is up to you.  

In my humble opinion, THAT is the best way to proceed with your vacation, but still honor the victims of the typhoon, all the while making some new heartfelt friendships in the Philippines.

21 Comments
Darren
11/12/2013 12:10:53 am

Thank you for your great advice.

Reply
Norm
11/16/2013 11:54:34 am

Here is an update on Boracay:

What is the condition of #Boracay Island in the #Philippines? Watch this video: http://ow.ly/qTBSe #travel #BestBeaches #TopVacations

Reply
My
11/12/2013 03:24:14 am

Thank you for your advice. We understand it.
We should be in Philippines next week. Boracay would be one of the places we want to stay during our vacation. But we are seriously wondering :
- if the food will be missing in the next days in places we want to visit like Palawan? (we read it in a serious French Newspaper)
- if we won't trouble the humanitarian aid by travelling by plane in the country?
- if there are hotels able to welcome us in Coron, Visayas, Bohol, Palawan, Negros...? Nobody is able to answer to us...
We would be very delighted to read your opinion regarding these questions. Thank you by advance.

Reply
Norm
11/16/2013 11:49:52 am

I can't answer every question accurately, but I know the damage to the hurricane were isolated to a very small area, which were not tourist spots. Here is the condition of Boracay:
What is the condition of #Boracay Island in the #Philippines? Watch this video: http://ow.ly/qTBSe #travel #BestBeaches #TopVacations

Reply
Julie
11/12/2013 03:26:57 am

thank you so much for your advice on this blog. i have a trip booked to the philippines, leaving this thursday, and you've helped so much in calming the fears of my family and friends, as well as providing up-to-date information to track. i agree with the last commentator, do you have any advice for travel to palawan as well?

Reply
Me
11/12/2013 11:21:45 am

Thank you for advices, you are a HERO

Reply
Norm
11/16/2013 11:50:42 am

hahaha not even a little bit, but thank you! :-)

By the way, here is the condition of Boracay:
What is the condition of #Boracay Island in the #Philippines? Watch this video: http://ow.ly/qTBSe #travel #BestBeaches #TopVacations

Reply
TB
11/12/2013 10:37:18 pm

yes, thank you so much - it's been really difficult to understand how the western islands are faring in this terrible time. i have a trip booked next week and we're going.
thank you for validating our decision.

Reply
Norm
11/16/2013 11:51:29 am

Here is an update on Boracay:

What is the condition of #Boracay Island in the #Philippines? Watch this video: http://ow.ly/qTBSe #travel #BestBeaches #TopVacations

Reply
Lindsey Henderson
11/13/2013 06:57:13 pm

Hi, I stayed on Boracay years ago at a place called Green Yard. We made friends with one of the girls who worked there (Bebing) but have since lost contact with her. I wonder if she's still there and how she is? Is Green Yard still there? Is everyone there ok? Sending my thoughts their (and your) way. Keep on keepin' on....you're doing a fantastic thing helping people out! cheers, from the west coast of Canada

Reply
Norm
11/16/2013 11:51:59 am

Hi Lindsey;
Here is an update on Boracay:

What is the condition of #Boracay Island in the #Philippines? Watch this video: http://ow.ly/qTBSe #travel #BestBeaches #TopVacations

Reply
Anna
11/13/2013 10:17:33 pm

Is there any food and water on boracay? Is any of the hotels ruined? Does any of the ATMs works?

Reply
Norm
11/16/2013 11:52:32 am

Here is an update on Boracay:

What is the condition of #Boracay Island in the #Philippines? Watch this video: http://ow.ly/qTBSe #travel #BestBeaches #TopVacations

Reply
Ed link
11/13/2013 11:03:21 pm

Hi, Thanks for the convincing article. However, I'm going to Cebu in December. How's the situation in Cebu?

Reply
Norm
11/16/2013 11:53:43 am

Ed - I'm pretty sure Cebu was unaffected, though there will be much more information available as the internet goes back live in a couple days.

Reply
Maria Gonzal
11/17/2013 02:27:29 pm

Hello!
Thank you so much for the update of Boracay and you are right not everything in Philippines is affected by the typhoon there still a lot of Island to visit in my home country!
And by canceling your vacation is not really helping the people because it is true that their incomes comes from the turism Industry

Reply
Maria Gonzal
11/17/2013 02:38:32 pm

My tips to you guys is visit this traveling blog of filipinos in My Home land you will find a lot of tips on where to go and what to do!!!
Chyngreyes search it in google and when you find her blog you will find a LOT of interesting traveling bloggers of My country where they show different interesting places in My country.
Thank you and MABUHAY:-)

Reply
Mike
11/19/2013 09:10:20 pm

what is the current situation in Boracay. We planning to come first of december.

Reply
Tien
11/22/2013 09:12:53 am

Hi Norm. My friend and I are very interested in traveling to the Philippines as volunteers. I am a pharmacist and my friend is in human resource. Besides from financial donations we want to part of the relief effort. We both feel that this will be food for our soul. Our thoughts are that we fly into the Philippines and reach out to any charity oorganizations and participate. We want to maximize our resources rather than going with an organization that required a substantial sum of money upfront. If you have any suggestion or recommendations I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

Reply
Liam Ferguson
11/23/2013 02:50:11 am

Hello all:

Have the prices for bottled water, food, etc. been jacked up on Boracay? Also, has the storm fears made Bulabog less crowded so I can Kitesurf without the usual mobs?

Reply
Kare. Macdonald
12/4/2013 06:16:59 pm

Thanks norm for all your help - my two friends and I are having a Fab time in boracay and so glad we took your advise and came. The sun is shining the sea is blue and there are no visible signs of damage from the typhoon. Drinking cocktails on the beach at fridays. White beach busy at night - bands playing - amazing - don't want to leave

Reply



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    Norm Schriever is a best-selling author, expat, cultural mad scientist, and enemy of the comfort zone. He travels the globe, telling the stories of the people he finds, and hopes to make the world a little bit better place with his words.   

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