Boracay is losing what made it special and we're ignoring the real problems.
Boracay remains one of the most beautiful islands in the world, but beauty alone isn't enough to keep people coming back.
If Boracay is struggling, maybe it's time for some honest reflection.
This island has everything needed to be a truly world-class tourist destination, yet too often the focus seems to be on enforcing minor rules while ignoring the issues that actually shape visitors' experiences.
Instead of policing sandcastles or whether someone has taken a chair onto the beach, why aren't we concentrating on the basics?
• Filipino men, public urination in streets and public spaces, in full view of families, children, and tourists.
• Poor food handling and hygiene standards at some establishments.
• Reports from visitors that some establishments may be substituting premium spirits with cheaper alcohol while serving them from premium-brand bottles and charging full price. If true, this is outright fraud that destroys trust and damages the reputation of Boracay's hospitality industry.
• Sick, injured, and starving dogs and cats left to wander the island with little visible intervention.
• The disgraceful amount of rubbish scattered across roadsides, vacant lots, and private properties despite Boracay's reputation as a world-famous destination.
• Aggressive harassment from some tour sellers, agents, and commission-based vendors who repeatedly approach visitors after they've already said "no."
• Reports from many female tourists of being followed, stared at, or secretly photographed on the beach, with allegations that some of these images are later uploaded online without consent. If true, this should be treated as a serious matter by the authorities.
• Persistent complaints across travel forums and social media about harassment, stalking, and aggressive selling, with some visitors saying they would never return because they felt uncomfortable rather than relaxed.
• Crumbling, abandoned, and visibly unsafe structures left to deteriorate instead of being repaired, secured, or demolished. They are not only an eyesore but also a potential safety hazard for residents and visitors alike, sending the message that basic maintenance and public safety are no longer priorities.
• Constant power outages. How can a destination that markets itself as a world-class tourist paradise in 2026 still struggle to provide a reliable electricity supply? Visitors paying premium prices shouldn't have to deal with repeated blackouts, and local businesses shouldn't have to absorb the cost and disruption of an unreliable power grid.
These aren't minor inconveniences. They're the things visitors remember long after they leave, and they're the stories they tell friends, family, and thousands of others online. Every negative experience damage Boracay's reputation a little more.
What is most frustrating is that so much effort appears to go into enforcing relatively trivial regulations, such as preventing sandcastles or beach chairs while the issues that genuinely affect tourism, safety, hygiene, and the island's reputation continue to be overlooked.
So, it's time to ask some difficult questions.
Is it time for the people responsible for guiding Boracay's future to be held accountable? If these problems have persisted for years despite repeated complaints from tourists and locals alike, should new leadership be brought in with the competence, vision, and determination to restore Boracay's reputation?
Should businesses that repeatedly scam customers face the loss of their licences? Should companies whose representatives harass visitors, ignore complaints, or engage in intimidating behaviour face tougher penalties?
Should operators found to be stalking or harassing tourists be permanently banned from operating on the island?
There's another question that deserves public scrutiny.
Every visitor contributes through environmental fees and terminal fees, with the understanding that this money helps protect and maintain Boracay. But many tourists and residents are left wondering: where is that money actually going?
If these funds are being collected to preserve the island, why do we still see rubbish accumulating, poor sanitation, neglected public spaces, inadequate public facilities, and so many of the same long-standing problems year after year?
Greater transparency is needed. The public should be able to see exactly how these fees are being spent, what projects they are funding, and what measurable improvements have been delivered. Accountability shouldn't be optional when millions of pesos are collected each year in the name of protecting one of the Philippines' most iconic destinations.
Boracay is one of the Philippines' greatest treasures. It deserves leadership that tackles the problems that actually matter. The people who live here deserve sustainable tourism. Honest businesses deserve a level playing field. And the millions of Filipinos and international visitors who spend their hard-earned money to visit deserve an island that lives up to its world-class reputation.
The island's beauty is not enough on its own. Reputation is built on cleanliness, honesty, safety, professionalism, respect for visitors, and accountability.
Boracay can be one of the best beach destinations on Earth, but only if we're willing to confront the issues that are driving people away instead of pretending they don't exist.
What do you think? Are these the issues that should be prioritised, or are there other problems that need to be addressed first?