Despite the global financial crisis and despite Typhoon Frank that devastated Aklan the most among provinces in the region in 2008 – the province has risen, and tourism is alive, Governor Carlito Marquez reported in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) here January 28.

                “Aklan has risen, and this is most obvious in the income collected by our Cagban and Caticlan Jetty Ports.  We had expected tourism to suffer the most from the worldwide economic downturn, but thanks  be to God, with the skin of our teeth, we were able to post a 7% or a P5.5 million increase in port income, from P77 million in 2008 to P83 million in 2009.  This includes terminal, polling cargo, rental berthing and docking, wharfage, anchorage and other fees,” Marquez said.

                Marquez said Aklan’s tourism industry is still alive, tourist arrivals in Boracay Island increased by 2% from 634,263 visitors in 2008 to 649,559 in 2009.

                These arrivals brought in P11.9 billion in tourist revenues.  (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)