Back in the spring of 2018, Philippine authorities made the surprising announcement that Boracay, a small island in the Philippines, would be closing for six months. The reason was simple: major tourism had led to an overflow of waste and sewage that was destroying the natural beauty of the tropical destination.
This week, they announced that the island has reopened — but if authorities have their way, it will likely never be the party destination it once was, according to the Guardian. There are now strict rules and regulations hotel owners have to follow to ensure that Boracay stays protected.
Take a look at the journey the island has been through, from near-total destruction to a peaceful paradise once more.
As a popular destination, Boracay received about two million tourists a year, with 40,000 visitors there during peak time.
Although tourists were spending about $1 billion a year, they were also leaving behind a huge amount of garbage, as well as an overflowing sewer system. The island was overcrowded and in the midst of destruction.
In April 2018, after years of devastation, the Philippine president ordered visitors off the island so they could start to close it down for rebuilding after calling it a "cesspool."
The president, Rodrigo Duterte, wanted everyone off the island so that they could set up and enable facilities to treat raw sewage found in the water.
Many locals were relieved that the beach was closing.
"Local government officials have been so negligent. They don't know how to manage and protect this island,"tour boat owner Varril Santa told Reuters in April."It would be better if the national government can run this island. It's better for Boracay, it's better for our tomorrow."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider