Boracay, Philippines
Widely regarded as one of the world’s best beach destinations, in April 2018 Boracay in the Philippines was shut down for a six-month rehabilitation period. Inspectors found more than 800 environmental violations on the island, including raw sewage flowing into the sea. In 2017, the infamous LaBoracay party left more than 11 tons of rubbish on the island.
Visitor numbers are now capped at 19,000 a day; there are no more beach parties; and cruise ships can’t carry more than 2,000 passengers. “Yet there are some who think six months off wasn’t enough and that the coral, the mangrove and the beaches still need to recover,” Francis says.
