Boracay – The Philippines has officially opened ‘Marhaba Boracay,’ a dedicated white beach for Muslim travelers on the famous island of Boracay, as part of a broader initiative to cater to Muslim-friendly tourism.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that the beach, situated in the Boracay Newcoast area near the ‘Lapus-Lapus’ rock formation, is the first of its kind on the island. The inauguration of Marhaba Boracay marks a significant step in the DOT’s ongoing efforts under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration to promote Halal and Muslim-friendly tourism in the country.
The initiative follows the Philippines’ recent accolades as an Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) for 2023 and 2024. The project, a collaboration between the Malay local government, the DOT, and Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, aims to provide a space that respects Islamic laws and caters specifically to the needs of Muslim families and travelers.
The DOT highlighted that Marhaba Boracay was inspired by similar Muslim-friendly beach concepts in other popular tourist destinations such as the Maldives and Thailand. This development is envisioned to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that supports the cultural preferences of Muslim tourists, reinforcing the Philippines’ commitment to diversity and international tourism.