Tourist arrivals in the country increased in May compared to the previous month despite the closure of Boracay island, the Department of Tourism said Friday. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered that the world-renowned beach destination be closed to tourists for half a year starting late April so establishments may improve sewerage systems and illegal structures could be torn down. Even with Boracay's shutdown, some 537,743 travelers visited the country in May, up 0.94 percent from April's tourist arrivals, Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Jr. said at a meeting of hoteliers in Makati.

Tourist arrivals up in May despite Boracay. (2018, July 7-8). The Daily Guardian, p. 7.